QUARTERLY Employment in the Manufacturing industry fared well over the quarter gaining 1616 employee rising 0.8%. The sector Electrical Machinery (36) reported an increase of 827, the industry’s largest quarterly gain. Production expansions and factory start up in the Electronic Components & Accessories subsector drove sector growth. Food Products (20) added 551 employees. Gains were primarily seasonal up by 338 and reflective of sugar beet processing and candy making. The processing of meat products increased adding 99 employees. Instruments (38) grew by 421. Short-term expansions in Laboratory Apparatus & Analytical, Optical, Measuring & Controlling Instruments undertaken by two employers accounted for 352 of the gain. Increases by a number of firms producing Surgical, Medical & Dental Instruments & Supplies added 123. Stone-Clay-Glass (32) suffered the largest loss dropping by 153 employees due to seasonal cutbacks in the processing of ready-mixed cement. Apparel (23) lost 119 employees. Slowed demand and production transfer to Mexico affected employment losses. Employment in Furniture (25) fell by 106 due to cutbacks in Household Furniture and Partitions, Shelving, Lockers & Fixtures. ANNUAL Manufacturing employment rose 1.7% since fourth quarter a year ago adding 3535. This increase was powered by a gain of 2409 employees in Electrical Machinery (36). About one half of the gain occurred as a result of yearlong increases in the manufacturing of Semiconductors & Related Devices. Production expansions and accompanied staff additions at one company were responsible for an increase of 430 in Electronic Connectors, also contributing to the sector gain. Instruments (38) grew by 928 over the year. Two firms involved in the manufacturing of instruments for measuring electricity and electric signals facilitated most of the growth. Fabricated Metals (34) added 908 employees. Yearlong expansions in all but one subsector accounted for the increase. Strong building activity influenced the increase of 560 in Stone-Clay-Glass (32). Transportation Equipment (37) suffered the largest annual loss dropping by 817. Losses took place over the year due to cutbacks in space programs and backlash from earlier slowdowns in car manufacturing in Detroit. Apparel (23) declined by 517 employees. A production move to Mexico caused the loss of about 300, while SIC changes in January created an additional loss of about 150.
Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Fourth Quarter 2000
