Fastest Growing Sectors

Trends Differ Throughout the Sierra Nevada

Why is it important?

Economic sectors grow rapidly in the short-term build local financial capital and are good candidates for economic development. Declining sectors, on the other hand, may be difficult to revive at any price, especially if the decline is a long-term trend. If a sector is in decline, officials should understand the reasons why and consider carefully before investing more in it.

How are we doing?

In the short term, some of the Sierra Nevada’s fastest growing sectors corresponded to California trends, especially local government and education and health services. Financial activities (finance, insurance, and real estate) sectors grew rapidly in the Sierra Nevada, counter to their trends in the California economy. Also unlike the rest of the state, natural resources and mining declined significantly in the Sierra Nevada economy.

Each subregion in the Sierra Nevada had distinctly different trends in some sectors. Between 2001 and 2002, construction grew significantly only in the North. The information sector grew rapidly in North Central, despite its decline at the state level. Personal services grew in North and South Central, consistent with the California trend. In South Central, the education, health, and financial services sectors all declined, contrary to their patterns in the rest of the Sierra Nevada and California. On the other hand, the state government, professional, and business service sectors grew significantly in South Central, while they declined in other regions. Manufacturing grew significantly in the East alone, contrary to its declining trend elsewhere.

Download data and charts 2001 and 2002