Employment Levels and Jobs

Employment and unemployment rates in La Plata County tend to follow trends in the national rates, but not closely. The relationship between local unemployment rates and state-wide rates is much closer. The local economy has shown improvement since 1988. Chart IX-5 illustrates these unemployment rates.

Labor Supply and Demand

The Durango area has always been a community which has been able to attract many more people (professional, white collar, and blue collar) than the area can employ, especially at average salaries. However, most who have come here feel that the reduction in wages is well worth it. Those who leave do so with great reluctance.

The quality of life in Durango is superb. We have an excess of labor supply over demand because of our lifestyle. In spite of what has been referred to as the "pine cone wage differential," even the highly qualified Ph.Ds at Fort Lewis College spend their professional lives in Durango. As can be seen from the data in Table X-5, many people with impressive skills are seeking employment in our area. The substantially lower wage costs in the Durango area are illustrated in Table XI-5. These lower wage costs provide a cost advantage to area businesses.

Significantly Oversupplied 	Significantly Undersupplied



 Occupational Groups    	Occupational Groups 



 1. Electrical Engineer  	1. Drafter, Architectural   



 2. Mechanical Engineer  	2. Surveyor Assistant  



 3. Nurse, General Duty   	3. Laboratory Tester



 4. Medical Assistant  		4. Counselor



 5. Elementary School Teacher   5. Manager, Fast Food 



 6. Paralegal   		6. Survey Worker



 7. Production Superintendent   7. Night Auditor



 8. Medical Secretary  		8. Hotel Clerk 



 9. Clerk-Typist   		9. Driver, Sales Route



10. Data Entry Clerk 		10. Customer Service Clerk



11. File Clerk I 		11. Deliverer, Merchandise



12. Mail Clerk 			12. Housekeeper, Home



13. Computer Operator 		13. Day Worker



14. Accounting Clerk 		14. Yard Worker



15. Teacher Aide II 		15. Flagger 



16. Sales Repr. General Merch.  16. Cleaner, Industrial



17. Bartender 			17. Landscape Gardener



18. Meat Cutter 		18. Electrician, Maintenance



19. Cosmetologist 		19. Electrician Helper



20. Food Service Worker, Hosp.  20. Cement Mason



21. Laundry Laborer             21. Power-Shovel Operator



22. Machinist 			22. Carpenter Apprentice



23. Machine Operator I 		23. Insulation Worker



24. Sheet-Metal Worker 		24. Carpet-Layer Helper



25. Electronics Mechanic 	25. Fence Erector



26. Welder, Arc 		26. Construction Worker II



27. Truck Driver, Light 	27. Truck-Driver Helper



28. Printer 			28. Van-Driver Helper



29. Industrial-Truck Operator   29. Car Wash Attendant



30. Laborer, Stores 		30. Cleaner II

The Cost of Labor

Table XI-5 shows recent hourly wages for selected occupations in Regions 8 and 9 (Region 9 includes Durango and La Plata County) and the Denver area. Durango area labor costs in this sample are more than ten per cent less than comparable wages in the Denver area.

Percentage Durango Labor Costs Less Than Denver Labor Costs: 10.5%.

*SOURCE: Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Occupational Supply/Demand Report, Fiscal 1994 4th Quarter.

Major Employers

The Durango area has major employers in education, medical services, government, groceries and tourism. Employment is measured in several different ways including annual payroll, number of employees, and full-time equivalent employees. The top employers in early 1995 as measured by annual payroll and number of employees were as follows:

Major Employers

**Data for 1992 and 1994 not divulged.

***Annual Average.

Source: La Plata County Business Opportunities 1995
Sponsored by Durango Industrial Development Foundation
Research - Fort Lewis College Office of Business Analysis