Employment in Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (FIRE) increased by 6.9 percent, which was second only to Construction. On an actual basis, employment within FIRE increased by 8,543, slightly less than the previous year's gain of 8,576. FIRE's average wage increased faster than in any other division at 11.3 percent.

The largest section within FIRE is Real Estate, which increased by 1,284 jobs to 31,801. The average wage increased by $2,963 to $29,379, the lowest annual wage within FIRE. Real Estate Agents and Managers accounted for the majority of the increase with an addition of 798 jobs to average 18,463 in 1998. . It should be noted that Real Estate and Insurance sales people are exempted from unemployment insurance coverage.

Depository Institutions is the second largest and slowest growing sector within FIRE. It increased by 2.8 percent 27,934. The average wage increased by 7.4 percent to $32,387. The majority of the increase occurred within State Commercial Banks with an addition of 474 jobs to 5,768.

Employment by Insurance Carriers increased by 2,530 to 27,525. The largest increase was in Fire, Marine, and Casualty Insurance, which was up by 774 jobs to 10,768. The largest percentage increase was Surety Insurance with a 30 percent increase to 558. Title Insurance, and Pension, Health, and Welfare funds experienced significant increases of 623 and 318 respectively to average 3,386 and 1,685. The average wage for Insurance Carriers increased by a below average 5.3 percent to $42,874.

Non-Deposit Credit Institution employment increased by 18.1 percent to 15,625. The average annual wage increased by 16.7 percent to $50,244. Most of the growth occurred within Mortgage Bankers and Brokers, which added 2,095 jobs to average 9,144 in 1998.

Holding and Other Investment Offices experienced a banner year with the average wage increasing to $79,695 from $63,697. The largest subsection within Holding and Investment Offices is Management Investment Offices, which added 211 jobs to average 2,492 in 1998. The average wage increased from $42,224 to $47,709. The second largest sector was Holding Companies, NEC which added 106 jobs to average 1,964. Holding Companies NEC had an average wage of $133,217, an increase of $40,371.

Employment within Insurance Agents, Brokers, & Service increased by 3.0 percent to 11,749. The average wage increased to $36,545 from $34,409.