CONSTRUCTION

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(15 - 17)

Employment change from last quarter	+ 7.5
Employment change from year ago	+11.6
Wage change from year ago	+20.4

QUARTERLY

Construction employment increased 7.5% over last quarter adding 9813 employees. Typically, third quarter reflects seasonal employment gains, though this quarter’s gain is higher than usual. The construction of a natural gas line running the length of the western slope of Colorado was implemented during this quarter adding almost 1500 employees to September employment statistics and an average of almost 800 for the quarter. Employment for the Trans Colorado project was classified in Heavy Construction (16), which reported an increase of 2855 over last quarter. The Trans Colorado project is anticipated to end in October. Employment in Special Trades (17) increased by 5336. Within Special Trades all subsectors increased with the most growth reported in Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning up 953, Misc Special Trades Contractors up 922 and Concrete Work up 850. General Building (15) rose by 1621 employees. Contractor employment for residential construction increased 1076 employees and nonresidential construction added 455.

ANNUAL

Annually, Construction employment grew 11.6% over third quarter a year ago adding 14,661 employees. The health of the Colorado economy, resulting in increased discretionary income and low mortgage and interest rates, has pushed many to purchase a new home or improve an existing home, causing strong gains in Special Trades (17). Special Trades, with two thirds of the industry employment, generated two thirds of the growth adding 9648 employees. Subsectors with growth of more than 1000 employees were: Electrical Contractors up 1916; Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning up 1828; Misc Special Contractors up 1600; Masonry, Stonework, Tile Setting & Plastering up 1368 and Concrete Work up 1338. Employment in General Building (15) rose by 2590 with residential construction adding 1201 and nonresidential adding 1203. Growth in General Building was equally divided between the Metro Denver and the Balance of State. Heavy Construction (16) added 2423 employees. Much of the growth was related to the Trans Colorado pipeline project peaking this quarter.

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Third Quarter 1998