Engineering
Senior Project Manager Education
Flowing Wells Schools
Maestrp de Espanol Trades/Construction
Pioneer Landscaping
Yard Person/Loader Operator Production and Manufacturing
Pioneer Landscaping
Crushing Crew Education
Flowing Wells Schools
Spanish Teacher/High School Finance and Accounting
SENIOR CONTROLLER General
Grocery/Market Mgr-Cafe/Restaurant Mgr

Job growth has dominated the listings of the Star 200 for most of the nearly three decades of its existence.

That trend largely continued this year, but there were notable slips in certain industries.

The Star's Christie Smythe offers the details on who's up and who's down on Page 18.

Despite predictions of a recession, the big employers have an optimistic outlook for 2008. Just over 300 local employers responded to our annual survey, and 50 percent said they believe their company's sales will increase in 2008. About 47 percent said they expect to add local jobs this year.

Others believe they will stand firm on the gains they made during the past few years of growth. About 13 percent of all survey respondents said they expect "no change" in sales, and about 26 percent told us they expect "no change" in staffing.

Raytheon Missile Systems, which leads the Star 200 for the second consecutive time, added well over 1,000 jobs in the past year.

The growing defense contractor is one of only three private employers in the top 10. The others are Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., which bought Phelps Dodge Mining Co. in 2007; and Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which continues to open new stores in Southern Arizona.

Among those listed here for the first time are Canteen Correctional Services, a food-service provider for prisons; and J.I.T. Staffing, a local temporary and direct-hire firm. For a complete list of newcomers to the Star 200, see Page 24.