AGRICULTURE

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(01 - 09)

Employment change from last quarter	-19.5
Employment change from year ago	+ 7.6
Wage change from year ago	+15.0

QUARTERLY

The Agriculture industry declined by 6876 employees dropping 19.5%. All sectors except Agri Prod-Livestock (02) declined over the quarter. Losses are typical to sectors influenced by the weather. Livestock production, however, is guided by factors such as supply and demand and prices and can cause employment to fluctuate at any time. Agriculture Services (07) reported the largest employment loss down 4294 employees. About three-quarters of the loss occurred in Lawn & Garden and the other quarter in Farm Labor. Lawn & Garden losses resulted from subsiding lawn mowing and fertilizing service activity due to cool weather while Farm Labor declined because harvesting was completed. Agri Prod-Crops (01) lost 2590 employees. Staffing for Vegetable & Melon production seasonally declined by 1357 followed by a loss of 575 in Horticulture Specialties which includes nurseries and sod farms. Agri Prod-Livestock added 30 employees over the quarter. Gains were reported in hog production.

ANNUAL

Agriculture employment registered annual growth of 7.6% adding 2013 employees to its ranks. Persistent population growth and new housing has pressured the advance of Agriculture employment. Agriculture Services (07) had the largest increase over the year, up 1449 employees. About 950 were added due to expansions in lawn care services which includes mowing and fertilizing. Veterinary Services added almost 350 employees. Staff expansions throughout the state at existing practices created most of the gains. Agri Prod-Livestock (02) recorded the second largest annual gain up 330 employees. The largest contribution to its increase in employment occurred in cattle production. Agri Prod-Crops (01) added 249 employees over the year. The greater use of farm labor during the 1997growing season created a loss in Vegetable & Melon production employment. Losses were offset by a very large apple crop adding employment to Tree Fruits and production expansions by a couple of sod and nursery businesses classified in Nursery Products.

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Fourth Quarter 1998