Something different: Companies that are hiring

The Massachusetts Alliance for Economic Development, a quasi-governmental group charged with helping recruit companies to the state, plans tomorrow to recognize some Massachusetts companies that have recently added new jobs.

The honorees include Evergreen Solar Inc., Shire Pharmaceuticals plc, Aspect Software Inc., Electrochem Inc. and Solutia Inc. Julia Tanen, a publicist for the awards, said nine of the 15 companies scheduled to be recognized are manufacturers.

Barry Bluestone, professor of political economy at Northeastern University and a co-author of a recent study on manufacturing commissioned by the Boston Foundation, said the awards underscore the fact that manufacturing remains a key part of the Massachusetts economy, even though it is perceived to be disappearing. The Boston Foundation report projected manufacturing in the state would decline to 268,000 jobs by 2016, down from 289,600 last month.

Over the past year, the number of manufacturing jobs in the state has declined by 4,400 or 1.5 percent, according to a report last week by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.
(By Todd Wallack, Globe staff)