This Great Graphic was posted by Rani Molla of Wall Street Journal. It draws on Bureau of Labor Statistics data to show the industry with the highest employment by state. There is a snapshot from 1990 and from 2013. In a word, this short quarter of a century saw a marked shift from manufacturing employment to health care (and social-assistance). Manufacturing was the largest employer in 37 states in 1990. In 2013 its was the largest employment in seven states.
The BLS links the shift to the 2008-2009 recession as retail trade, manufacturing and sectors contracted. For the country as a whole, the number employed in manufacturing fell below health care employment in 2004.
A secondary phenomenon has been the downgrade of retail employment in the western mountain states. It was superseded by health care (and social assistance). However, retail trade eclipsed manufacturing in Utah. Wyoming is also interesting in that its largest employer shifted to accommodation and food services from retail trade. Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia employment shifted from manufacturing to retail trade.
Great Graphic: Leading Industry Employer by State 1990 and 2013
Reviewed by Marc Chandler
on
August 04, 2014
Rating:
Reviewed by Marc Chandler
on
August 04, 2014
Rating:
