This issue of Colorado Employment and Wages concludes publication of data by Standard Industrial Classification for Colorado. In accordance with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics future data will be published with codes from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Time series data will not be available. First Quarter of 2001 will begin the data series by NAICS codes.

QUARTERLY

Colorado’s employment advanced 0.2% over last quarter gaining 4540 employees. Gains were extremely low for a fourth quarter with slowing shaped by mergers and subsequent cutbacks in the telecommunications and utilities fields, an early cold fall and an end to the 2000 Census. Government reported the largest quarterly jump, up 7008 employees, mainly because of schools returning to session, but down from usual, due in part to Census layoffs. Retail rose by 6873, slightly higher than normal, boosted by the opening of the large Flatiron Crossing mall in Boulder County. Seasonal losses in Agriculture, down 7719 employees, and Construction, down 4102, were higher than is typical and effected by the weather. While TCPU reported an increase of 1786 its employment growth was lower than in the past due to mergers with layoffs and project completions.

ANNUALLY

A slow quarterly gain had little affect on Colorado’s annual growth up 3.9% adding 84,356 employees. Annual increases were some of the strongest on record. Services, up 33,833 generated about 40% of the state’s industrial employment gain due to high demand for temporary and contract help services in a variety of areas. Retail Trade employment was hot with employment rising by 15,601 employees for an annual increase of 3.8%. Low interest rates and favorable discretionary income caused a healthy gain in Construction with employment up 14,714 growing by 9.7%. Mining statistics show the industry to have the lowest employment and percent gain over the year at 155 employees and 0.9%. Corporate moves out of state, cutbacks, declining commodity prices and decreased drilling activity held down advances.