CONSTRUCTION

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(15 - 17)

Employment change from last quarter	+10.8
Employment change from year ago	+10.7
Wage change from year ago	+17.1

QUARTERLY

Construction employment gained 12,819 employees over last quarter rising 10.8%. In terms of numbers this is the largest quarterly increase ever recorded. Although the volume of growth has been influenced by burgeoning population and low interest and mortgage rates, employment gains are seasonally effected in second quarter by improved weather. About one third of the industry gain occurred in Special Trades (17) up 8101 workers. Concrete work added 2161 employees, the largest subsector increase, followed by Misc Special Trade Contractors up 1452. Increases in Misc Special Trade Contractors were dominated by excavation work. The third largest subsector gain occurred in Plumbing, Heating & Air-Conditioning up 1126 employees. Employment in Heavy Construction (16) grew by 2644. Highway & Street Construction added 1573 and Water, Sewer & Communication and Power Line Construction added 657. A number of jobs were undertaken in laying communication and power lines. General Building (15) grew by 2075. More than half of the growth was recorded in Residential Building.


ANNUAL

Employment in Construction rose 10.4% over second quarter a year ago adding 12,336 workers. Construction had the largest industry growth in terms of percentages. Special Trades (17), the largest component of Construction, added 8965 employees. Within Special Trades, Plumbing, Heating & Air-Conditioning reported the largest employment gain increasing by 1584. Sprinkler system installation companies and mechanical engineering firms appear to have had strong increases over the year. The second largest sector increase occurred in Misc Special Trades Contractors up 1499 employees. Excavation, asbestos abatement, insulation and fencing contractors were some of the types of subcontractors contributing to the gain in Misc Special Trades. Employment in General Building (15) grew by 2452. More than half, or 1493 employees, were added to Nonresidential building. Residential building grew by 827. Employment in Heavy Construction (16) was up by 920. It’s largest gain was in Heavy Construction except Highway & Streets due to increased projects in the laying of power and communication cable lines.

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Second Quarter 1998