Zoning laws keep out heavy manufacturing or industry because nearly all the city land is developed.

Second came the general downturn in industry, especially heavy manufacturing.

From the 1980s to recent times, Dayton's population has declined due to the drop in heavy manufacturing and national economic woes.

"Between 1978 and 1985, we lost 150,000 jobs in heavy manufacturing alone."

Most of the region's heavy manufacturing takes place in the nearby city of Kitakyushu.

"It's not like they're putting a slaughterhouse or heavy manufacturing there," he added.

Problems have also hit heavy manufacturing and the service sector, leaving many workers with their first experience of being laid off.

As the economy moves further away from jobs in heavy manufacturing and toward service and knowledge industries, Minneapolis is one step ahead.

The key industries are heavy manufacturing, forestry and farming.

More than 90,000 jobs were lost, most of them in heavy manufacturing.