Manufacturing on Long Island

Patrick Boyle

Executive Director

IgniteLI 

Long Island boasts almost 3,000 Manufacturers employing over 71,000 of our friends and neighbors in great, high-paying careers throughout the manufacturing industries. In the past 12 months, 200 Long Island Manufacturers have posted 8,837 jobs in sectors where the average worker is paid about $20,000 MORE than the rest of the country. Long Island’s innovative spirit has been the springboard for brilliant advances in science and technology and together we can continue the legacy of creating great products that make modern life possible. Let's get to work!  

There are 12 sectors of the manufacturing industry that are currently producing goods here on Long Island, this is a list of the top 5 that we think are the most interesting and can be areas of growth for new employees.   

         Food and Beverage 

350 Food and Beverage companies call Long Island home. Over 7,000 Long Islanders work in the food and Beverage industries producing great products like Tate’s Cookies, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, and Arizona Iced Tea. Also included in Food and Beverage is Long Island’s infamous Wine Country out on the East End as well as Long Island’s vibrant craft beer industries.
 

      Medical Device 

Long Island's high-tech workforce has led the way in innovation and technical exploration. Did you know that the MRI machine was invented right here on Long Island and is still manufactured here by Fonar Corporation! Another Long Island innovation is the Avery Diaphragm Pacemaker produced in Hauppauge, this device has saved thousands of lives worldwide. Another product saving lives globally is the Chemboi early detection test kit used in over 40 countries.
 

     Aerospace & Defense 

Long Island is very well known for its history in the aerospace and defense industries. From winning World War II to putting Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon 50 years ago, we continue to play a significant role in aviation with companies like East/West Industries who make U.S. Helicopters safer for our pilots and crews or Air Industries Group who make the landing gear for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye. We even help our sailors see where they are going by producing the periscopes for the U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Submarine Fleet at GSE Dynamics. 

     Pharmaceutical/ Nutraceutical  

Long Island’s technical workforce also includes manufacturers of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products making vitamins, supplements, and drugs to keep us healthy and strong. Companies like A&Z in Hauppauge, Nature’s Bounty, and Topiderm are employing thousands of Long Islanders and helping make our economy so vibrant. 

     Consumer Goods 

Many of the products we use in our everyday lives that help us complete tasks, make music, or relax are made here on Long Island as well. Surfers flock to Long Island to ride our waves, that’s why Nature’s Shapes is located here to serve custom surfboards to those that relax by the sea. Speaking of relaxing, a great way to unwind is by strumming on a guitar, did you know that 70% of the world’s guitar strings are made right here in East Farmingdale by D’Addario?  

These manufacturers are always looking for hard-working new employees to be the next generation of inventors, builders, and innovators to propel Long Island businesses into the future. 

Patrick D. Boyle, Executive Director, IgniteLI the Manufacturing Trade Association of Long Island. IgniteLI serves to promote and advocate for Long Island’s Manufacturing community by acting as the voice for 3000 Manufacturers over 12 sectors of producers based here on Long Island.  

www.ignitelongisland.org