Growth in Manufacturing slowed in 1998, adding only 3,691 jobs compared to 7,092 the previous year. This was the tenth straight year that Manufacturing's share of covered employment declined. The strongest growth areas within Manufacturing are industries associated with construction and high technology. The industries that have shown the greatest decreases are those that are labor intensive and commodity oriented. The average wage increased slower than the aggregate average private wage with an increase of 6.2 percent to $41,077. It is difficult to accurately assess growth trends in the Manufacturing Division because of extensive use of Help Supply Services and SIC code changes

Electronic and other Electrical Equipment and Components, Except Computer Equipment registered the largest increase at 1,207 to average 21,097 jobs in 1998.

Industrial and Commercial Machinery and Computer Equipment added 1,055 jobs to average 34,002 resulting from an increase of 1,022 jobs within Electronic Computers. This is the largest sector within Manufacturing. Computer Peripheral Equipment, NEC increased by 248 jobs to 3,964 and Industrial Machinery, NEC increased by 178 jobs to 4,227.

Printing, Publishing, and Allied Industries experienced a broad increase totaling 1,023 jobs to average 28,528 in 1998. Industries registering a gain of 100 jobs or more included Newspapers up 242 to 8,055, Miscellaneous Publishing up 210 to 3,725, Greeting Cards up 179 to 3,268, Periodical up 168 to 2,645, and Commercial Printing, Lithographic up 123 to 6,745.

The largest decline in employment was in Food and Kindred Products, which declined by 639 jobs to 25,253. Of the forty-one categories within this sector, twenty-seven declined. The average wage increased by 8.9 percent to $36,021.

Measuring Analyzing and Controlling Instruments employment remained steady with a decline of .5 percent to 20,550. The biggest movers within this sector were Instruments to Measure Electricity with a decline of 347 to 2,998 and Search and Navigation Equipment, which increased by 244 jobs to 3,178.

Lumber and Wood Products, Except Furniture increased by 296 jobs to average 6,035 in 1998. The largest increases were in Structural Wood Members, NEC up 174 to 1,193, Wood Kitchen Cabinets up 48 to 928 and Prefabricated Wood Buildings up 47 to 270 jobs.

Increases related to the construction boom included Furniture and Fixtures, adding 341 jobs to 5,642 and Stone Clay, Glass, and Concrete Products, adding 485 jobs to 10,061.