Covered employment in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing grew at the slowest percentage pace since 1991. The division added 1,594 jobs, which was a 5.1 percent increase. In contrast, the average annual wage increased at the fastest percentage rate in at least fifteen years. The average wage increased from $21,360 to $22,646, a 6.0 percent increase. The division has increased its percent of total employment in Colorado every year since at least 1986.

Agricultural Services employment has continued to grow along with the population of Colorado and its continued urbanization. Agricultural Services added 1,403 jobs in 2000 after adding 1,950 in 1999. There were 20,231 jobs with an annual average wage of $22,985 in 2000. Landscape and Horticultural Services employment increased 1,095 jobs to 12,632. Veterinary Services employment has increased by an increasing number of jobs five years in a row. In 2000, Veterinary Services added 474 jobs to average 4,773. Animal Specialty Services’ employment increased by 8.8 percent to 960 jobs. Crop Preparation Services for Market employment declined by 94 jobs to 863. Farm Labor Contractors employment declined by 23.3 percent to average 463 jobs. Fifty-eight percent of Agricultural Services employment is in the Denver-Boulder MSA.

Agriculture Production Crops reversed a decline of 129 jobs in 1999 with a 131-job gain in 2000. There were 7,110 jobs in Agriculture Production Crops with an average annual wage of $21,033 in 2000. Ornamental Nursery Products’ employment increased by 84 jobs to 2,674. Vegetables and Melons’ employment decreased by 79 jobs to 1,415.

Agricultural Production – Livestock and Animal Specialties’ employment increased by 1.2 percent to 5,496. The increase was attributed to a 60-job increase in Dairy Farms and a 56-job increase in Beef Cattle, Except Feedlots. The gains were offset by a 46-job loss in Hogs. Only 3.1 percent of this sector is in the Denver MSA. The average wage was $22,532 in 2000.

Forestry employment declined by five jobs to 96 in 2000. There was a 29-job loss in Timber Tracts and a 26-job gain in Forestry Services. The average wage increased by 8.0 percent to $22,438.

Fishing Hunting and Trapping added a job to average eighteen. Hunting, Trapping, Game Propagation employment increased for the second year with a gain of two jobs to average fourteen.

Note: Hunting guides are classified under SIC 7999 (Amusement and Recreation Services, Not elsewhere Classified) Logging is classified under Manufacturing in SIC 2411.