MINING

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(10 - 14)

Employment change from last quarter	- 0.1
Employment change from year ago	- 1.0
Wage change from year ago	- 2.5

QUARTERLY

The volatile Mining industry declined over the quarter dropping 0.1% for a loss of 13 employees. Sector activity was mixed. Oil & Gas Extraction (13) suffered the only loss dropping 180 employees. Decreases in contracted oil and gas field services, particularly in the Balance of State, accounted for the loss. Low oil prices may be curtailing drilling and exploration activity. Mining & Quarry Nonmetal (14) experienced the highest sector employment gain adding 88. Two subsectors contributed to the gain: Crushed & Broken Stone and Sand & Gravel. Both subsectors historically increase during the summer while providing materials for the construction industry. Coal Mining (12) reported the second largest gain up by 49 employees. Short-term projects ending next quarter at two coal mines added 37 to the sector. Contract coal mining services rose by 12 and will add more employees next quarter. Metal Mining (10) gained 30 employees. Short-term jobs occurring in Metal Mining Services added 40. Corporate cutbacks in copper and gold mining offices offset sector gains.

ANNUAL

The Mining industry ended its hiatus of annual growth returning to its past pattern of decline. Employment suffered its first annual loss since first quarter 1997 dropping 142 employees down 1.0%. Three of the four sectors lost employees. Metal Mining (10) reported the largest loss down 109. Corporate closures and layoffs in Gold Ores, occurring mainly this quarter and in fourth quarter 1997 caused most of the drop. Coal Mining (12) lost 90 employees over the year due to a corporate office downsizing and production staff cutbacks at a number of mines. Oil & Gas Extraction (13) declined by 67 employees. The completion of projects in contracted oil and gas field services caused most of the sector decline. Mining & Quarry Nonmetal (14) was the only sector to gain employees over the year adding 125. The greater share of new employees occurred in Sand & Gravel, which mines sand and gravel for the construction industry. Demand for sand and gravel has been intense paralleling the residential remodel and building construction frenzy.

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Third Quarter 1998