On a quarterly basis Agriculture employment seasonally declined. The end of the growing season for grass as well as crops causes Agriculture to lose employment at this time of year. Employment is down 20.7% and 6868 employees. Agriculture Services (07) suffered the largest sector decline down 4156 employees. Losses occurred because of seasonal cutbacks in lawn and garden services work and farm labor. Agri Prod-Crops (01) experienced the next largest employee loss down 2657. Completion of vegetable and melon harvest along with potato and sugar beet harvest contributed to the decline in this category. Also effecting a sizable decline were seasonal layoffs by businesses involved in the production of nursery stock, bedding plants, flowers and sod. Employment in Agri Prod-Livestock (02) remained relatively stable losing only 15 employees. Small gains in dairy farming, poultry, egg and honey production offset minor losses that occurred in beef production.
ANNUAL
Employment in the Agriculture industry grew 7.3% over fourth quarter a year ago adding 1801 employees. Better than 90% of the annual growth occurred in Agriculture Services (07) which expanded by 1665 employees. The greatest portion of this increase resulted from lawn and garden service hiring due to strong demand. Growth was also fueled by increased services to pets as evidenced by the gain of over 300 in veterinary services and 110 in the sector that contains pet grooming and boarding. Agri Prod-Livestock (02) reported the second largest sector increase up 315 employees. Feeding expansions at a number of existing hog production facilities, one new hog facility and small gains in beef feeding operations generated the growth here. Agri Prod-Crops (01) added 135 employees over the year. Potato farm employment grew generating most of the sector gain. Vegetable and melon production reported a gain due to delayed seasonal declines for two large companies.
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