QUARTERLY Employment in the Construction industry fell 2.4% since last quarter dropping by 4102. Losses were seasonal, however, slightly deeper than normal, influenced by a particularly harsh November cold. As expected, all sectors within the industry declined. Special Trade (17) employment fell the hardest down by 2896. Its greatest declining subsector was Concrete Work, which dropped 1257 employees. Masonry, Stonework, Tile Setting & Plastering had the second greatest loss dropping 751 employees. The next sizable decrease occurred in Painting & Paper Hanging down 593. Electrical Work, contrary to all other subsectors, experienced an employment surge gaining 849 employees. Electrical Work has not typified seasonal patterns associated with other types of construction. Heavy Construction (16) dropped by 1047 employees. Most of the loss occurred in Highway & Street Construction. Heavy Construction Except Highway & Street, though down only 52 employees, was buoyed by gains in firms engaged in the Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Communication & Power Line Construction. General Building (15) was down 159. Residential Building fell by 224 employees. Nonresidential Building gained 90 employees offsetting losses. ANNUAL Annual Construction employment gains ranked third with the industry gaining 14,714 employees. In terms of percent of growth Construction was number one, having grown 9.7% over a year ago. Special Trade (17) incurred the lion’s share of the employment increase growing by 11,442 due to low interest rates, easy money and a hearty demand for subcontractors. Within Special Trade, Electric Work outdistanced all other subsectors in employment growth adding 4271, more than one third of the increase. Masonry, Stonework, Tile Setting & Plastering, which includes drywall and insulation work, had the second largest increase up 1697 employees. Misc Special Trade Contractors added 1067 employees with more than half resulting from excavation work. General Building (15) grew by 1682 employees. Residential Building gained 1129 and Nonresidential Building gained 466. Employment in Heavy Construction (16) rose by 1591. Heavy Construction Except Highway & Street Construction acquired all of the gain driven by projects in Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Communication & Power Line Construction. The building of a large manufacturing facility using more than 500 workers also enhanced growth.
Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Fourth Quarter 2000
