Since 1985, no division has grown faster than Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing. The division has increase by 99.1 percent since 1985. The division added 1,766 jobs over the year. Thirty-four percent of the jobs were classified in the Denver MSA. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 44 percent of agricultural employment is covered under the ES202 report on a national basis.

Once again Agricultural Services represented both the majority of the division's employment and employment growth. Employment increased by 8.2 percent to 16,678 and the average wage increased by 6.9 percent to $20,255. The largest portion of Agricultural Services is Landscape and Horticultural Services with 10,141 jobs in 1998 compared to 9,271 in 1997. A large portion of the increased employment in Landscape and Horticultural Services is associated with the construction boom that Colorado has experienced during the nineties. The second largest sector within Agricultural Services is Veterinary Services with 3,941 jobs, an increase of 9.4 percent. The Colorado Department of Labor does not keep separate statistics for domestic Veterinary Services and Veterinary Services for Livestock. Animal Specialty Services employment increased by 66 jobs to 843 and Farm Labor Contractors employment increased by 17 jobs to 515.

The second largest sector within Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing is Agricultural Production Crops with 7,109 jobs, an increase of 180 jobs. The largest sector within Agricultural Production Crops is Ornamental Nursery Products with 2,607 jobs, an increase of 1.4 percent. The average wage within Ornamental Nursery Products was 21,860.

Average annual employment in Agricultural Production Livestock and Animal Specialties was 5,364 in 1998 compared to 5,056 in 1997. The largest increase was in Hogs, up 143 to 1,190. The second largest increase was in Dairy Farms with an increase of 99 jobs to 1,216. Other increases included Beef Cattle Feedlots expanding from 1,453 to 1,516 jobs and Beef Cattle, Except Feedlots expanding from 682 to 728 jobs.

Employment classified under Forestry remained very slight in 1998. However, it did increase by 26 jobs because of a SIC reclassification from Landscape and Horticultural Services. Logging is classified under manufacturing and averaged 161 jobs in 1998.

Covered employment classified in Fishing, Hunting and Trapping was almost nonexistent in 1998. There was an average of 14 jobs compared to 27 in 1997.