Employment in TCPU increased for the fifteenth consecutive year. The increase was 4,352 jobs. The average wage increased at the slowest rate since 1997, up a mere 7.4 percent to $54,698. Seventy percent of TCPU employment is within the Denver MSA.

Overall growth in the Communications industry slowed in 2000. Employment increased by 3.4 percent to 59,775. Telephone Communications, Except Radio, which is the largest sector within Communications, reversed a long-standing growth trend with a loss of 943 jobs to average 34,404. The average wage in Communications increased by 12.0 percent to $79,493. Cable and Other Pay TV Services increased by 5.6 percent from the previous year and 318 percent since 1992. Cable and Other Pay TV Services employment averaged 11,384 with an average wage of $65,186. Telegraph & other Communications is the fastest growing sector within Communications going from 2,425 to 4,089. Radiotelephone Communications is the second fastest sector with a 24.7 percent increase to 5,268.

Air Transportation recorded another strong year with an increase of 1,980 jobs to 27,133. Air Transportation, Scheduled accounted for most of the gain with an increase of 1,391 to 15,410. Air Courier Services experienced a typical year with an additional 349 jobs to average 8,013. Airports, Flying Fields, & Services’ employment increased from 2,912 to 3,050.

Motor Freight Transportation and Warehousing added 861 jobs to average 24,993. The average wage stagnated with an increase of 2.4 percent to $30,902. Local Trucking, Without Storage increased by 405 jobs to 7,814. Local trucking with storage increased by 264 jobs to 2,443. Trucking, Except Local reversed a downward trend by adding 3 jobs to average 9,632 in 2000.

Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services experienced a widespread decline of 807 jobs to average 14,430. The average wage increased by 5.2 percent to $58,992. Employment in Electric and other Services Combined declined by 150 jobs to 3,661. Electric and other Services Combined has declined every year since 1993 when it had 6,113 employees. The largest decline occurred in Gas Transmission and Distribution at 309 to average 1,264.

Local and Suburban Transit and Interurban Passenger Transportation reversed a slight downward trend to record a 1.0 percent increase to average 5,521 jobs. Local and Suburban Transit was down by 135 jobs to 1,186. Local Passenger Transportation, NEC increased by 209 jobs to 2,668.

Transportation Services’ employment increased by 370 to 8,601 with an average wage of $32,284.