State Government employment recorded almost no change from the previous year. There was an average of 59,952 State employees in 1997 compared to 59,787 in 1996. This was a .3 percent increase. The average wage increased by 4 percent to $34,201. Forty-six percent of all State employment was within the Denver MSA.

By far the largest increase in employment within State Government occurred in Justice Public Order and Safety. The sector recorded an increase of 443 jobs to 8,857 in 1997. There were 7,435 jobs in this sector in 1993. Within this sector, there were 4,585 jobs classified in Correctional Institutions in 1997, compared to 3,719 in 1993.

Fifty-one percent of State Government Employment is classified in Educational Services. Total covered employment in Educational Services decreased by 246 jobs to 30,702 in 1997. All but 204 of these jobs were classified within Colleges, Universities, Professional Schools, and Junior Colleges. Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools account for 23,981 of these jobs. Junior Colleges and Technical Institutes employed 6,512 on average.

The third largest sector within State Government is Health Services with 5,693 employees in 1997, a decrease of 153. The majority of the decrease occurred at University Hospital in Denver.

Their were 3,119 jobs classified in Heavy Construction in 1997, a decrease of 41 jobs from the previous year. All of this employment was with the Colorado Department of Transportation with 48 percent classified in the Denver MSA.

Employment within Social Services continued to decrease. The sector declined by 43 jobs to 1,077 after declining by 77 in 1996 and 150 in 1995. There were 1,424 jobs in Social Services in 1993.

Administration of Environmental Quality and Housing programs employed 1,762 in 1997. This employment was primarily in the Department of Natural Resources.