Services added 31,597 jobs in 2000. This was the highest number since 1994, when 31,814 jobs were added. The average wage increased by 12.1 percent to $37,281.

The strongest sector within Services continues to be Business Services, which added 17,878 jobs to average 208,455. The average Business Services wage increased by 18.4 percent to $43,961. The primary driving force behind the increases is Computer Programming, Data Processing, and other Computer Related Services, which has increased at an increasing rate for seven straight years. The sector added 13,633 jobs to average 76,218 with an average wage of $76,503. Help Supply Services employment increased from 51,617 to 55,375 with an average wage of $22,383.

The second largest Services Sector is Health Services at 131,789 jobs. This was a 1.8 percent increase. The majority of this increase was in Offices & Clinics of Medical Doctors with 1,215 additional jobs. Offices & Clinics of Medical Doctors employed 29,817 with an average wage of $57,893. General Medical & Surgical Hospitals is the largest sector within Health Services with 38,471 jobs. General Medical & Surgical Hospitals added only 45 jobs in 2000. The average wage increased 9.1 percent to $33,182.

Employment growth in Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps, and other Lodging places slowed again in 2000. The sector added 441 jobs to average 41,738 with an average wage of $18,571. There were 1,350 establishments classified as Hotels and Motels in 2000 verses 1,348 in 1999. Hotels and Motels employed 39,682 with an average wage of $18,734 in 2000.

Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management, and Related Services recorded a 6.0 percent increase in average employment to 71,436. Engineering Services employment increased by 1,793 to 24,632 with an average wage of $60,561. Accounting, Auditing, & Bookkeeping employment stabilized with only a 0.1 percent boost to 10,831 after a 12.1 percent advance in 1999. Management Consulting Services employment increased by 22.4 percent in 2000 and 12.4 percent in 1999 to average 6,260 with an average wage of $65,039.

Employment and Recreational Services increased by 4.4 percent in 2000 with an average wage of $25,274. The largest sector within Recreational Services is Amusement and Recreation, NEC with 15,296 employees in 2000 compared to 14,759 in 1999. Coin-Operated Amusement Devices’ employment increased by 8.6 percent to 7,265. Physical Fitness Facilities’ employment increased from 4,748 to 5,008 jobs.

Social Services’ employment increased by 2,075 jobs to 39,845 with an annual average wage of $18,979.