The following indices depict changes in an index of the shares of manufacturing, service and construction employment in the State. This index depicts the percentage change since January 1988 in the share of employment in each sector. This sectorial change index illustrates the continuing shift from manufacturing to service sector employment in the State. This has resulted in a shift from manufacturing to services of about 15 percent of the labor force since 1988. This shift reflects the type of change occurring at the national level and is not necessarily worrisome to an economy.
Any difference is wages between the two major industrial groups is due to productivity differences.
Since manufacturing workers typically enjoy more productive capital, or machinery, they tend to produce more output per worker. Service sector workers typically must rely on human capital to increase productivity.