More Than 1 Million Jobs Added in Retail, Other Industries, New Census Report Finds

Editor’s Note: On June 15, 2006, the United States Census Bureau issued a report on job growth throughout the country. Several of the industries cited include health care, retail and food service - businesses of traditional interest to those who sell and manufacture uniforms. UniformMarket is pleased to present the summary findings below:

Businesses in the retail trade, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services industries added more than 1.1 million jobs between 2003 and 2004, according to a report on business activity released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to the report, 2004 County Business Patterns, retail trade led all industry sectors in employment gains, adding 483,606 jobs; followed by health care and social assistance (342,629 jobs); and accommodations and food services (310,160 jobs).

Among counties with the largest employment changes in these industries were San Diego, Calif., for retail trade (nearly 8 percent gain between 2003 and 2004); Miami-Dade, Fla., for health care and social assistance (nearly 13 percent); and Alameda, Calif., for accommodations and food services (more than 13 percent). Los Angeles County had the largest numeric gains in retail trade and health care and social assistance between 2003 and 2004.

Numerical and Percentage Gains in Employment, 2003 to 2004: U.S. and Top-Five
Counties in Selected Industry Sectors

RETAIL TRADE
Geographic Area	2004 Employees	2003 Employees	Gain 2003-2004 Number	Gain 2003-2004 Percent
United States	15,351,431	14,867,825	483,606	3.3
Los Angeles, Calif.	419,549	402,888	16,661	4.1
Cook, Ill.	239,731	224,324	15,407	6.9
San Diego, Calif.	157,626	146,145	11,481	7.9
Maricopa, Ariz.	191,624	180,174	11,450	6.4
Orange, Calif.	161,339	153,146	8,193	5.3