Employment in Finance Insurance and Real Estate increased by 4,653 jobs to 136,333, while the average wage increased by 9.7 percent to $46,448.

Employment growth in Real Estate slowed considerably in 1999, adding only 630 jobs to average 32,431. Real Estate Agents and Managers employment increased by 491 jobs to 18,954. Mobile Home Site Operators experienced an increase of 116 jobs to average 923 in 1999, due to a SIC change from Real Estate Agents and Managers. The largest decline in employment occurred in Title Abstract Offices, down 41 employees to 558.

Depository Institutions employment continued to expand with an addition of 1,055 employees to 28,989. The average wage increased by 1.7 percent to $31,713. The fastest growing sector within Depository Institutions is State Commercial Banks, which added 737 jobs to average 6,505. State Credit Union employment increased by 6.2 percent to 1,544.

Although employment in Non-Depository Credit Institutions increased by 2.1 percent to 15,956, the average wage declined by 1.7 percent to $49,439. On an annual average basis, the largest employment gain occurred in Loan Brokers with an increase of 10.1 percent to 3,569. Loan Broker employment increased by 40.2 percent the previous year. Mortgage Bankers and Correspondents employment increased by 180 jobs to 6,083 while the associated annual wage declined from $59,245 to $55,178.

Security and Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges, and Services recorded a 13.7 percent gain in employment to 12,309 and a 12.1 percent increase in the average annual wage to $87,731. Security Brokers and Dealers employment increased by 10.7 percent to 8,538 with an annual average wage of $77,022. Establishments classified under Investment Advice experienced an increase from 1,899 jobs to 2,236 with an average salary of $153,325.

Insurance Carrier employment increased by 1,037 jobs to 27,525 in 1999. About a quarter of the increase was from a SIC reclassification from Insurance Agents. The average wage in this industry was $44,701. The largest gain occurred in Pension, Health, and Welfare Funds, which were up by 446 jobs to 2,131. The largest decrease was in Hospital and Medical Service Plans with a decline of 245 jobs to 5,035.

Insurance Agents, Brokers, & Service employment declined by 530 jobs to 11,219. Commissioned salespeople are not included in this report.