N.D.Businesses, Payroll, Employees Increased in 1996

NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665

January 7, 1998

N.D. Businesses, Payroll, Employees Increased in 1996

The number of businesses in North Dakota stood at 20,439 in 1996. That number represents an increase of 170 from 1995, according to the recent Population Bulletin released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University.

"This is a continuation of a growth trend started in the early 1990s and reflects the strength of the state and national economy at the time," says Richard Rathge, data center director. "The losses from flooding during 1997 and the downturn in agriculture will have a dampening effect on this trend, especially in the retail and ag sectors. In contrast, however, strong growth in the construction and manufacturing industries, due to rebuilding efforts, will offset any sharp declines."

Payroll in the North Dakota increased by 6.8 percent in 1996, up to $4.8 billion from $4.5 billion in 1995. During the same period, the number of employees grew from 230,090 to 235,125.

The services sector employed the largest portion of the state's private-sector workforce in 1996—32.4 percent. The average annual payroll per services-sector employee was $18,349 in 1996.

Cass County was home to 4,058 businesses with employees, the most of any county in the state in 1996. Burleigh County was second with 2,227 businesses, followed by Grand Forks County with 1,796. Ward County was fourth with 1,710 and Williams County was fifth with 835. Cass County had 67,667 employees in 1996 while Burleigh County's total was 30,322. Grand Forks County had 25,815 employees, Ward County had 19,992 and Williams County had 6,760.

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Source: Richard Rathge (701) 231-8621

Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136

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