AGRICULTURE

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(01 - 09)

Employment change from last quarter	+38.2
Employment change from year ago	+ 6.2
Wage change from year ago	+10.7

QUARTERLY

Second quarter typically is the initiation of the growing season and reflects a large upturn in employment levels. This year’s second quarter followed the trend, gaining 8679 employees up 38.2% from last quarter. The sector, Agriculture Services (07), which contains crew leader Farm Labor and Lawn & Garden Services, added 6013 employees. Planting, weeding and harvesting are some of the tasks taking place during the quarter adding 423 to farm labor. Lawn mowing and fertilizing services seasonally grew causing most of the gain of 5369 in lawn & garden services. Agri Prod-Crops (01) added 2470 employees. The largest subsector increase occurred in Nursery Products, up 1236 employees, which contains sod farms and facilities engaged in the production of nursery stock for local greenhouses and garden shops. Vegetables & Melons added 704 employees, a seasonal increase generated by the farmer hiring for planting, thinning and harvesting. Agri Prod-Livestock added 161 employees. Most of the gain occurred in cattle ranches and was seasonal.


ANNUAL

Employment in Agriculture rose by 1840 over second quarter a year ago, an increase of 6.2%. The largest sector, Agriculture Services (07), added the largest number of new employees since second quarter a year ago gaining 1273. Within Agriculture Services, Lawn & Garden Services added 888 employees. Veterinary Services added 352, reflecting slow over the year growth with the largest increases occurring in El Paso and Larimer counties. Agri Prod-Livestock (02) increased by 296 employees. Hog production was the largest growing component adding 167 employees. The bulk of its growth occurred on the eastern plains and was centered in Prowers County. Dairy Farms added 56 employees over the year. Expansions and a couple of new farms generated the increase. Weld County experienced most of the gain. Over the year employment in Agri Prod-Crops (01) grew by 263. A SIC change moving about 50 employees from Wholesale, a new greenhouse with about 50 employees and expansions in Horticulture Specialties caused most of the growth in Agri Prod-Crops.

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Second Quarter 1998