Employment & Average Wages by Industry
Date Updated: 08/24/2011
- Estimated Total Jobs in Larimer County by Industrial Sector (NAICS), 2009
- Average Weekly Wages in Larimer County by Industrial Sector (NAICS), 2010
- Wage & Salary vs. Proprietors Employment in Larimer County, 2001-09
- Sector Employment in Larimer County as Percentage of Total Employment, 2001-09
- County of Employment for Larimer County Residents, 2009
SIC and NAICS Classification Systems
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) replaced the United States Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system in 2001. There were 350 new industries separately recognized for the first time, and 10 new sectors added for clearer definition: businesses that use similar production processes are grouped together. NAICS was developed jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to provide new comparability in statistics about business activity across North America (United States Census Bureau). For the full industry list and definitions, see 2007 NAICS Codes and Titles.
Employment
There are multiple sources of data on employment, although they differ in methodology. For this report, two main sources were used: the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, Quarterly Colorado Employment and Wages (QCEW) report.
The information provided by the BEA is a better source for looking at employment trends, as well as proprietors employment. Proprietors employment is often over reported by the BEA, so caution should be taken in using this data.
The data collected by the Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, on the other hand, consists of the number of workers covered by unemployment insurance who earned wages during the pay period that includes the 12th of the month. This information is compiled quarterly and reported in the Colorado Employment and Wages report (QCEW).
What this chart shows: Estimated Total Jobs by Industrial Sector (NAICS) in Larimer County, 2009
Data Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis (CA25N Report)
What the above data tell us:
Larimer County had an estimated 188,270 jobs in 2009, 3,971 fewer than the previous year. The largest portion were in retail trade (21,437 or 11.4%), health care and social assistance (18,931 or 10.1%), professional and technical services (16,375 or 8.7 %), and accommodation and food services (15,162 or 8.1%).What this chart shows: Average Weekly Wages by Industrial Sector (NAICS) in Larimer County, 2010
Data Source: Colorado Department of Labor & Employment, QCEW Report [pdf]
What the above data tell us:
The 2010 Annual Colorado QCEW Wage and Employment Tables [pdf] lists Management of Companies & Enterprises, Federal Government, Manufacturing, and Professional & Technical Services as the industrial sectors with the highest average weekly wage in Larimer County for 2010. The Retail Trade and Accommodation & Food Services sectors employ more people and pay lower average salaries than the other sectors. The Computer & Electronic Product Manufacturing subset of the Manufacturing sector offered the highest paid jobs in Larimer County in 2010, with an average weekly wage of $2,040.What this chart shows: Wage & Salary vs. Proprietors Employment in Larimer County, 2001-2009
Data Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis (CA25N Report)
What the above data tell us:
In 2001, 22.7% of employment in Larimer County was due to proprietors employment. By 2009, that percentage increased to 27.3%, an increase of 20.3%. Overall, total employment in Larimer County has increased by 10.7% between 2001 and 2009.Prior to 2009, employment increased every year between 2001 and 2008. According to the State Demography Office, the county's population, ages 16 to 62, increased an estimated 14.6% during this same period, however there were an estimated 3,971 fewer jobs available.
What this chart shows: Selected Sector Employment as Percentage of Total Employment in Larimer County, 2001-2009
Data Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis (CA25N Report)
What the above data tell us:
Since 2001, Retail Trade has employed the largest percentage of employees (11.4% to 12.1%) in Larimer County. In 2009, the Health Care & Social Assistance sector employed 10.1% or 18,931 and is the fastest growing segment in the County (43.2% since 2001). Four of the seven sectors shown above have lost percentage points since 2001 - Manufacturing (4.6), Construction (1.6), Federal Government (0.7) and Retail Trade (0.4). All but the Retail Trade sector paid average weekly wages that were higher than the overall 2010 average weekly wage of $785.What this chart shows: County of Employment for Larimer County Residents, 2009
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau
What the above data tell us:
Nearly two-thirds (63.3%) of employed County residents work and live in Larimer County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 11.8% of Weld County residents commuted to Larimer County in 2009, compared to 7.4% of Larimer County residents who commuted to Weld County.Additional Information:
What is the minimum wage for workers who receive tips?
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets a federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, as of January 1, 2011, for covered, nonexempt employees. An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.
Some states have minimum wage laws specific to tipped employees. When an employee is subject to both the federal and state wage laws, the employee is entitled to the provisions which provide the greater benefits. (Source: United States Department of Labor)
The Colorado Constitution requires the Colorado minimum wage to be adjusted annually for inflation. Effective January 1, 2011, the Colorado minimum wage was set to $7.36 per hour. The employer of a tipped employee in Colorado is required to pay $4.34 an hour. See the Minimum Wage Fact Sheet [pdf] for more information. (Return to text)
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Program is a cooperative program involving the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor and the State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs). The QCEW program produces a comprehensive tabulation of employment and wage information for workers covered by State unemployment insurance (UI) laws and Federal workers covered by the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) program. (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages). (Return to text)
Related Information on Compass -
- Income by Racial Classification
- Median Family Income
- Population Size & Growth
- Self-Sufficient Wages
- Unemployment Rate
- Work Commute
Other Resources -
- Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (formerly ES202)
- LMI Gateway, Colorado Department of Labor & Employment
- The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2008: A Family Needs Budget [pdf] This updated report calculates the amount of money Larimer County families need to earn to make ends meet without public or private assistance.
- United States Census Bureau - the development of NAICS
- List of NAICS Industries and definitions
- United States Department of Labor - Information about minimum wage laws
Data Tables:
Larimer County Employment by Industrial Sector (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
|
NAICS Sectors (code) |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| 457 | 527 | 463 | 531 | 508 | 529 | 597 | 605 | 624 | |
| 701 | 650 | 714 | 713 | 796 | 870 | 930 | 1,100 | 1,368 | |
| 232 | 230 | 229 | 233 | 240 | 255 | 264 | 264 | 270 | |
| 14,862 | 14,787 | 14,349 | 14,806 | 15,737 | 16,040 | 16,005 | 15,007 | 13,291 | |
| 18,635 | 16,842 | 13,677 | 13,476 | 13,495 | 13,049 | 13,256 | 13,169 | 12,037 | |
| 3,612 | 3,558 | 3,472 | 3,756 | 3,788 | 3,900 | 3,883 | 4,009 | 3,791 | |
| 20,141 | 20,398 | 20,644 | 20,939 | 21,724 | 22,245 | 22,672 | 22,413 | 21,437 | |
| 3,102 | 3,074 | 3,085 | 3,298 | 3,412 | 3,217 | 3,213 | 3,057 | 2,905 | |
|
Information (51) |
3,483 | 3,012 | 3,093 | 3,118 | 3,236 | 3,310 | 3,401 | 3,483 | 3,555 |
|
Finance and Insurance (52) |
5,681 | 6,044 | 6,507 | 6,725 | 6,738 | 6,965 | 7,586 | 7,992 | 8,791 |
| 7,933 | 8,065 | 8,290 | 9,188 | 9,798 | 10,214 | 10,984 | 10,978 | 10,899 | |
| 12,560 | 12,328 | 14,274 | 15,480 | 16,136 | 16,472 | 17,575 | 16,887 | 16,375 | |
| 232 | 234 | 195 | 318 | 589 | 605 | 576 | 556 | 515 | |
| 9,957 | 9,675 | 9,793 | 10,344 | 9,980 | 10,429 | 10,591 | 11,373 | 10,584 | |
| 1,941 | 2,127 | 2,170 | 2,304 | 2,484 | 2,568 | 2,581 | 2,703 | 2,753 | |
| 13,221 | 14,167 | 14,766 | 15,321 | 15,530 | 16,073 | 17,614 | 18,342 | 18,931 | |
| 3,664 | 3,805 | 4,032 | 4,295 | 4,404 | 4,561 | 4,941 | 5,099 | 5,264 | |
| 13,598 | 14,168 | 13,980 | 14,302 | 14,590 | 15,110 | 15,298 | 15,383 | 15,162 | |
| 8,298 | 8,701 | 9,044 | 9,299 | 9,408 | 9,459 | 9,709 | 9,764 | 9,602 | |
| 2,231 | 2,366 | 2,478 | 2,485 | 2,467 | 2,449 | 2,437 | 2,463 | 2,514 | |
| 11,175 | 11,238 | 11,127 | 10,957 | 11,284 | 11,258 | 11,733 | 11,445 | 11,121 | |
| 11,506 | 11,894 | 11,968 | 12,265 | 12,548 | 12,700 | 12,847 | 13,279 | 13,603 |
Larimer County Average Weekly Wages by Industrial Sector, 2010 (QCEW)
|
NAICS Sectors (code) |
Average Weekly Wage |
|
|
$544 |
||
|
$886 |
||
|
$1,219 |
||
|
$863 |
||
|
$1,418 |
||
|
$1,021 |
||
|
$455 |
||
|
$685 |
||
|
Information (51) |
$977 |
|
|
Finance and Insurance (52) |
$980 |
|
|
$605 |
||
|
$1,334 |
||
|
$1,632 |
||
|
$556 |
||
|
$505 |
||
|
$818 |
||
|
$306 |
||
|
$282 |
||
|
$540 |
||
|
$768 |
||
|
$1,430 |
||
Estimated Total Number of Jobs, Larimer County (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
|
Industry Sectors (NAICS) |
Wage & Salary Employment |
Proprietors Employment |
|
2001 |
131,479 |
38,577 |
|
2002 |
131,253 |
39,397 |
|
2003 |
130,408 |
40,771 |
|
2004 |
132,773 |
44,083 |
|
2005 |
135,570 |
45,949 |
|
2006 |
138,115 |
46,806 |
|
2007 |
141,111 |
50,428 |
|
2008 |
142,674 |
50,567 |
|
2009 |
136,901 |
51,369 |
Sector Employment as Percentage of Total Employment in Larimer County (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
|
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
|
|
#/% |
#/% |
#/% |
#/% |
|
|
Retail Trade |
20,141/11.8 |
20,398/12.0 |
20,644/12.1 |
20,939/11.8 |
|
Manufacturing |
18,635/11.0 |
16,842/9.9 |
13,677/8.0 |
13,476/7.6 |
|
Construction |
14,862/8.7 |
14,787/8.7 |
14,349/8.4 |
14,80/8.4 |
|
Accommodation & Food Services |
13,598/8.0 |
14,168/8.3 |
13,980/8.2 |
14,302/8.1 |
|
Health Care & Social Assistance |
13,221/7.8 |
14,167/8.3 |
14,766/8.6 |
15,321/8.7 |
|
Government (Local) |
11,506/6.8 |
11,894/7.0 |
11,968/7.0 |
12,265/6.9 |
|
Government (Federal) |
2,231/1.3 |
2,366/1.4 |
2,478/1.4 |
2,485/1.4 |
Sector Employment as Percentage of Total Employment in Larimer County (cont'd)
|
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2010 |
|
|
#/% |
#/% |
#/% |
#/% |
#/% |
|
|
Retail Trade |
21,724/12.0 |
22,245/12.0 |
22,672/11.8 |
22,413/11.7 |
21,437/11.4 |
|
Manufacturing |
13,495/7.4 |
13,049/7.1 |
13,256/6.9 |
13,169/6.9 |
12,037/6.4 |
|
Construction |
15,737/8.7 |
16,040/8.7 |
16,005/8.4 |
15,007/7.8 |
13,291/7.1 |
|
Accommodation & Food Services |
14,590/8.0 |
15,110/8.2 |
15,291/8.0 |
15,383/8.0 |
15,162/8.1 |
|
Health Care & Social Assistance |
15,530/8.6 |
16,073/8.7 |
17,614/9.2 |
18,342/9.5 |
18,931/10.1 |
|
Government (Local) |
12,548/6.9 |
12,700/6.9 |
12,847/6.7 |
13,279/6.9 |
13,603/7.2 |
|
Government (Federal ) |
2,467/1.4 |
2,449/1.3 |
2,437/1.3 |
2,463/1.3 |
2,514/1.3 |
County of Employment for Larimer County Residents, 2009
|
County of Employment |
Number |
Percentage |
|
Larimer |
76,682 | 63.3% |
|
Weld |
8,948 | 7.4% |
|
Boulder |
8,451 | 7.0% |
|
Denver |
6,126 | 5.1% |
|
Arapahoe |
3,828 | 3.2% |
|
Jefferson |
3,590 | 3.0% |
|
Adams |
3,439 | 2.8% |
|
El Paso |
2,462 | 2.0% |
|
Douglas |
1,547 | 1.3% |
|
Larimie County, WY |
768 | 0.6% |
|
Other |
5,227 | 4.3% |