Wholesale Trade continued to gain ground in employment numbers adding 1451 for a percent gain of 1.3 over last quarter. Its strongest sector was Durable Goods (50) up 1089. Two subsectors within Durable Goods reported strong quarterly growth: Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies up 444 and Electrical Goods up 418. Growth in Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies was driven by increased business in the distribution of computers, peripheral equipment and software. Gains in Electrical Goods were controlled by expansions in the distribution of electronic parts and electronic communications equipment.
Nondurable Goods (51) grew by 361 over the quarter. Groceries & Related Products reported the largest subsector increase rising by 499. Seasonal staffing for the wholesale distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables supported its growth. Its increase of 215 was higher than a year ago compensating for the decreased availability of farm workers. Groceries & Related Products Not Elsewhere Classified added another 107 to Groceries & Related Products. Drugs, Drug Proprietaries & Druggists Sundries continued its slow growth activity adding 126. A large decline occurred in the subsector, Misc Nondurable Goods, which fell by 397 employees. Losses were mainly seasonal dropping in the categories of farm supply distribution and Flowers, Nursery Stock & Florists Supplies. Both areas usually expand in second quarter and contract in third.
ANNUAL
Wholesale Trade reported a strong annual increase up 4.6% with the addition of 4919 employees. The sector Durable Goods (50) continued to dominate the industry constituting 62% of industry employment and earning better than 80% of the industry growth. Over a year ago Durable Goods employment grew by 4088. Electrical Goods within Durable Goods generated 1700 of the increase due mainly to distribution expansions of electronic parts and communications equipment. Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies added another 1020. Its increase was driven by expansions in the distribution of computers, peripheral equipment and software. Hiring to support the distribution of Machinery, Equipment & Supplies added 415 employees. Lumber & Other Construction Materials realized a gain of 3389. Increased demand by the Construction industry supported this gain.
Annually Nondurable Goods (51) employment rose by 831. Its strongest component, up 441, reporting yearlong growth, was Drugs, Drug Proprietaries & Druggists Sundries. Groceries & Related Products added 279 annually. Increases occurring during this harvest season in the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables greatly impacted growth. The subsector Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages reported the third largest increase up 120 employees. Petroleum & Petroleum Products fell by 107. Losses typically were small occurring in a variety of establishments over the year.
Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Third Quarter 2000
