Between 1997 and 2004, employment within the retail trade segment will increase by 4,100 jobs to reach 31,500 jobs. This is an increase of 15.0 percent over the 1997 level. The wholesale trade segment will add 100 jobs over the projection period to reach 6,200 jobs in 2004. Compared to the 1997 level, this is an increase of 1.6 percent. The manufacturing division is projected to reach 30,300 jobs in 2004.
Manufacturing is composed of both durable and nondurable goods segments.
Historically in this area, the nondurable goods segment has included more workers than the durable goods segment. The largest nondurable goods group is the food and kindred products segment, with 14,900 jobs in 1997. As local economic development efforts attract new firms to the area, existing manufacturing facilities will expand, and manufacturing operating costs will be reduced, additional jobs will be created. The government industry division provides the fourth largest number of nonagricultural jobs in Stanislaus County. Employment in government is expected to increase by about 3,400 jobs to reach an estimated 26,800 jobs.