MANUFACTURING

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(20 - 39)

Employment change from last quarter	+ 0.0
Employment change from year ago	+ 2.9
Wage change from year ago	+ 9.2

QUARTERLY

Manufacturing employment barely changed losing 52 employees over the quarter for a percent change of 0.0%. Within the industry, though, many changes occurred. Stone-Clay-Glass (32) reported the largest change adding 548 employees. About 200 were added to Ready-Mixed Concrete, a typical seasonal expansion for summer road and construction projects. Increased demand for concrete products, other than block and brick, added 113 to the sector. Non-Electrical Machinery (35) added 487 employees with most of the gain in the manufacture of Computer & Office Equipment. Electrical Machinery (36) reported the largest loss dropping by 343 employees. Losses due to layoffs occurred mainly in Electronic Components & Accessories, which contains the production of items such as circuit boards, power supplies, semiconductors and electronic connectors. Rubber-Misc Plastic (30) dropped 351 employees. Plant closures dominated the losses, however, a number of companies did experience layoffs. Printing-Publishing (27) seasonally declined by 262 and Leather (31) dropped by 241 due to layoffs.


ANNUAL

Manufacturing employment grew by 5912 annually, an increase of 2.9%. Electrical Machinery (36) experienced the largest increase adding 2010 employees. Better than half of the gain was the result of SIC changes into the sector in January. The remainder of the gain was due to expansion that topped out in fourth quarter 1997. Most activity occurred in the Electronic Components & Accessories subsector. Non-Electrical Machinery (35) added 1539 employees. Increases were due to expansions occurring steadily over the year centered in Computer & Office Equipment production. Employment in Printing-Publishing (27) grew by 1047 with expansions in all subsectors except book printing and publishing. Food Products (20) lost 476 employees. SIC changes covering about 350 employees accounted for a large share of the decrease with most the result of reclassifying one company from beverage manufacturing to wholesale. Misc Manufacturing (39) decreased by 282 employees as a result of a large facility closure classified in Dolls, Toys, Games & Sporting & Athletic Goods.

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Second Quarter 1998