TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION & PUBLIC UTILITIES

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(40 - 49)

Employment change from last quarter	+ 2.4
Employment change from year ago	+ 6.4
Wage change from year ago	+17.9

QUARTERLY

Employment in the TCPU industry continued to climb, up 2.4% over last quarter adding 3082. Sector activity was mixed with some affected by seasonality. Air Transportation (45) seasonally gained 2128 employees over the quarter. About 1600 were added to handle Christmas package delivery for Air Courier Services and another 350 for increased airlines service over the Christmas holidays. Communication (48) rose by 1111 employees. Expansions in cellular and telephone communications added about 650 to the sector while cable and other pay televisions services added over 500. Local Transportation (41) rose by 242 in support of transport to ski destinations. Trucking-Warehousing (42) lost employment dropping by 193. The summer is peak moving time for Local Trucking without Storage and fourth quarter generally reports a seasonal decline for this subsector. This year fourth quarter followed the trend, though dropping by about 250 employees, a slightly higher number of losses than in previous years. Losses were offset by a larger than normal increase in Courier Services other than air. Water Transportation (44) seasonally declined by 128.
ANNUAL

Employment in TCPU rose 6.4% adding 7794 employees. The Communications (48) sector reported the largest increase comprising 96% of the annual growth up 7536 employees. Telephone communications added nearly 3750 employees. About 500 were added due to SIC changes from Wholesale in January and the remainder from expansions in telephone transmission and radiotelephone communications such as cellular and paging services. Cable & Other Pay Television Services was the second fastest growing component within TCPU adding about 3300 employees. SIC changes in January of 1998 brought in about 1200 employees from Wholesale with the balance of employment growth due to expansions. Trucking-Warehousing (42) grew by 400 employees over last year. Expansions in local trucking and public storage generated the increases. Air Transportation (45) suffered the largest annual decline dropping by 296 employees. Most of the loss occurred in Airports, Flying Fields & Terminal Services due to the cessation of a service contract for baggage handlers and decreased staffing at two ski area airports.

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Fourth Quarter 1998