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Office Furniture & Design Centers, Inc. has been part of the Grand Junction community since 2001, and has recently expanded into a 7000 foot showr... more
 
Home > Business Environment > Industry Base

Industry Base

Overview

Colorado's key economic strength is its diversity - the same is true of the Grand Junction MSA. Originally steeped in mining and agriculture, the economy has diversified significantly in the last 25 years. Evidence of this trend is provided by the significant increase in GMP over the last 10 years, the 9th fastest growing in the nation. The areas' manufacturing base ranges from electronics to semiconductor equipment, advanced composites to bicycle parts, as well as traditional and base manufacturing. Oil and gas extraction, mining and construction have re-emerged as strong industry sectors in recent years.

A strong service sector also exists due to the area being the major market between Salt Lake City and Denver. Strong health and medical services, construction, business and professional services provide resources to neighboring areas in Colorado and Utah creating a market area of 500,000 people. Business services include customer service centers in telecommunications and the electronics industries. The Grand Junction area is also a key distribution center due to its excellent location on Interstate 70. Agriculture and mining, once economic strongholds, now represent a decreasing share of the area’s output. Tourism, though not easily definable as a separate economic sector, is an important industry to the area, as visitors are drawn year- round to the outstanding recreational activities and breathtaking scenery.


The Grand Junction area is also a key distribution center due to its excellent location on Interstate 70. Agriculture and mining, once economic strongholds, now represent a decreasing share of the area’s output. Tourism, though not easily definable as a separate economic sector, is an important industry to the area, as visitors are drawn year- round to the outstanding recreational activities and breathtaking scenery.

Industry Growth

From 2001 to 2006 employment in all industry sectors in the Grand Junction area increased by 30%. Mining and extraction employment grew 162% during this time period, with construction also growing significantly - a 125% increase. Manufacturing, government and agriculture employment were more stable, growing less than the average rate.

Employment by Industry Mesa County, 1st Quarter 2007

NAICS Industry Sector # Employees % of Total Avg. Annual Wage
11 Agriculture, Forestry, Fish & Fishing 402 0.68% $23,192
21 Mining 2,706 4.58% $69,108
22 Utilities 221 0.37% $65,416
23 Construction 5,023 8.50% $38,064
31 Manufacturing 3,203 5.42% $37,440
42 Wholesale Trade 2,264 3.83% $46,332
44 Retail Trade 8,170 13.82% $25,480
48 Transportation & Warehousing 2,136 3.61% $37,284
51 Information 926 1.57% $45,188
52 Finance & Insurance 2,182 3.69% $49,556
53 Real Estate; Rental & Leasing 1,187 2.01% $30,992
54 Professional & Technical Services 2,279 3.86% $36,504
55 Management of Companies & Enterprises 83 0.14% $62,972
56 Administrative & Waste Services 2,900 4.91% $24,544
61 Educational Services 199 0.34% $19,032
62 Healthcare & Social Assistance 8,066 13.64% $36,036
71 Arts-Entertainment & Recreation 1,165 1.97% $12,220
72 Accommodation & Food Services 5,822 9.85% $13,676
81 Other Services-Except Public Admin 1,701 2.88% $26,468
TG Government 8,482 14.35% $40,768
Source: Colorado Dept of Labor 1st Quarter 2007

Top Employers, Mesa County, September 2007

Ind Employer Employees Phone # Web site
G Mesa County School District #51 3,133 970-254-5100
www.mesa.k12.co.us
S St. Mary's Hospital & Medical Center 2,235 970-244-2273
www.stmarygj.com
S Mesa State College *1,440 970-248-1020
www.mesastate.edu
G State of Colorado 982 303-866-2431
www.state.co.us
G Mesa County - All Departments 977 970-244-1800
www.co.mesa.co.us
G City of Grand Junction *968 970-244-1501
www.gjcity.org
R Wal-Mart 865 970-241-6061 www.walmart.com
S Halliburton Energy 800 970-523-3600
www.halliburton.com
S StarTek USA, Inc. 625 970-263-7603
www.startek.com
S City Markets, Inc.  590 970-241-0750 www.citymarket.com
S Community Hospital 567
970-242-0920 www.gjhosp.org
S Hilltop Community Resources, Inc. 550
970-242-4400 www.htop.org
S Veterans Health Administration 475 970-242-0731
www.usajobs.opm.gov
S Rocky Mountain Health Plans 350
970-244-7800
www.rmhmo.org
G US Postal Service 340
970-244-3402
www.usps.com
S West Star Aviation Inc. 329
970-243-7500 www.weststaraviation.com
S Family Health West 304
970-858-9871
www.familyhealthwest.org
S McDonald's 300 970-245-6420 www.mcdonaldsgrandjunction.com
S Choice Hotels 280
970-245-3355
www.hotelchoice.com
S Colorado West Mental Health 275 970-241-6023 www.cwrmhc.org
S Mesa Development Services 260 970-243-3702 www.mesadev.org
S Union Pacific Railroad 258 888-870-8777 www.up.com
R Home Depot 250 970-244-8577 www.homedepot.com
* Total employees including seasonal workers
Source: Grand Junction Economic Partnership - September 2007

(M = Manufacturing  S  = Service  R = Retail G = Government )

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