Local Government employment continued to steadily increase with an additional 5,584 jobs to average 199,562. Local Government wages continued to lag all other sectors with an increase of only 3.2 percent to average $30,462.

Educational Services’ employment continued its steady ascent with an increase of 2,643 jobs to 104,649. Elementary and Secondary Schools employment increased by 2,645 to average 101,271 with an average annual salary of $28,197. Junior Colleges’ employment decreased by 79 jobs to 1,663. Libraries’ employment increased by 52 jobs to 1,320.

Executive, Legislative and, and General Government, except Finance added 1,876 jobs to average 66,341. The average salary increased by 3.2 percent to $33,335. Executive Offices’ employment added 1,667 jobs to average 53,554. General Government, NEC added 175 jobs to average 12,521 in 2000. This is the sector that city and county governments are coded in when they do not submit separate unemployment insurance tax reports for their various functional departments.

Employment growth within Health Services slowed considerably in 2000 from over eight percent in each of the past three years to 4.0 percent. There were 9,213 jobs with an average salary of $32,877.

Local and Suburban Transit employment increased by 7.1 percent to 2,544 jobs. The average wage increased by 5.9 percent to $37,908. Almost all of these jobs were with the Regional Transportation District.

Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services employment increased by 231 jobs to 5,375. Water Supply employment increased by 368 jobs to 2,220.

Park and recreational districts are primarily coded under Amusement and Recreation. Amusement and Recreation employment increased by 1.3 percent to 2,912.

Social Services employment declined for the first time since 1996. Social Services’ employment declined by 8 to 1,066. The average wage increased from $28,404 to $29,774.