QUARTERLY On a quarterly basis Wholesale Trade employment grew 0.8% and added 853 employees. Durable Goods (50) incurred almost all of the gain increasing by 852 employees. Firms involved in the distribution of Electrical Goods contributed the greatest share of new employees adding 507. Its growth was encouraged by increases within Electronic Parts & Equipment, which cover semiconductor devices, phone equipment and TV receiving equipment. Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies had the second largest increase up 422 employees. Most of its increase occurred in the category of distribution of Computer & Peripheral Equipment & Software due to expansions. Employment in Machinery, Equipment & Supplies fell by 98 due mainly to seasonal cutbacks in Farm & Garden Machinery & Equipment.
Nondurable Goods (51) showed little change over the quarter gaining only 3 employees. Subsector activity was also minimal with minor changes except for Misc Nondurable Goods and Paper & Paper Products. The subsector Misc Nondurable Goods dropped by 133 employees due to a seasonal decline of 101 in Farm Supplies. Paper & Paper Products added 88 with most of its increase in establishments involved in the distribution of Stationery & Office Supplies. ANNUAL Wholesale Trade witnessed its largest annual growth spurt since 1995 gaining 5008 employees, up 4.7%. Durable Goods (50) garnered the greatest share of the increase up 4434. Growth in Electric Goods was responsible for almost half of the gain adding 2080 employees. Gains here were primarily the result of expansions in the distribution of Electronic Parts & Equipment. Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies added 1324 employees. Most of its gain over the year resulted from expansions in the wholesale distribution of Computer & Peripheral Equipment & Software. Machinery, Equipment & Supplies had the third largest subsector gain, up 403 employees. Industrial Machinery & Equipment contributed the largest number of new employees, 290. About 170 of this gain resulted from SIC changes back in January.
Annually, Nondurable Goods (51) gained 575 employees. The two subsectors adding the largest number of employees to Nondurable Goods were Drugs, Drug Proprietaries & Druggists Sundries, up 230, and Groceries & Related Products up 204. Despite experiencing a decrease this quarter Drugs, Drug Proprietaries & Druggist Sundries has shown steady increases over the year. Growth in Groceries & Related Products occurred in the distribution of fresh meats and prepackaged frozen foods.
Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Fourth Quarter 2000
