Mining and Real Estate – Drivers of the Colorado Economy

Thank goodness for the  mining and real estate industries! From an output perspective these industries are the primary drivers of the Colorado economy.

In 2013, Colorado’s nominal GDP was $294.4 billion (most current data available). The state’s economy expanded by $157.1 billion between 1997 and 2013 (1997 is the first year that data was available). Between 2009 and 2013 the GDP expanded by $46.3 billion.

The Great Recession had a major impact on the way the economy expanded. This is evident when comparing the contribution to output for the periods 1997 to 2013 and 2009 to 2013.

Between 1997 and 2013 the contribution to GDP was broken down as follows:
• Goods Producing 20.5%
• Service Producing 68.6%
• Private sector (Goods + Services) 89.0%
• Government 11.0%

Between 1997 and 2013 the annualized rate of growth for the GDP follows:
• Total 4.9%
• Private 5.0%
• Government 4.1%

Between 2009 and 2013 the contribution to GDP was broken down as follows:
• Goods Producing 28.0%
• Service Producing 65.5%
• Private sector (Goods + Service) 93.6%
• Government 6.4%

Between 2009 and 2013 the annualized rate of growth for the GDP follows:
• Total 4.4%
• Private 4.7%
• Government 2.2%

Thank goodness for the Goods Producing Sectors (Agriculture, Mining, Construction, and Manufacturing)!

Industry 2013 GDP (millions) 2013 minus 1997 % of Total 2013 minus 2009 % of Total
All industry total $294,443 $157,072 $46,266
Private industries $258,217 $139,860 89.0% $43,287 93.6%
Goods Producing $57,447 $32,144 20.5% $12,964 28.0%
Service Producing $200,771 $107,718 68.6% $30,325 65.5%
Government $36,226 $17,212 11.0% $2,979 6.4%

The following two tables provide more detail by industry.

The following table shows more detail by industry sector. It is sorted in descending order by the column 2013 minus 1997.

Industry 2013 GDP (millions) 2013 minus 1997 % of Total 2013 minus 2009 % of Total
Real estate and rental and leasing $40,194 $21,355 13.6% $6,895 14.9%
Mining $19,848 $17,964 11.4% $8,518 18.4%
Government $36,226 $17,212 11.0% $2,979 6.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services $26,355 $16,084 10.2% $4,233 9.1%
Information $21,578 $12,019 7.7% $1,407 3.0%
Health care and social assistance $17,438 $10,503 6.7% $2,262 4.9%
Wholesale trade $15,915 $7,818 5.0% $2,606 5.6%
Retail trade $16,105 $6,926 4.4% $1,965 4.2%
Manufacturing $21,600 $6,657 4.2% $2,171 4.7%
Finance and insurance $14,480 $6,067 3.9% $2,436 5.3%
Accommodation and food services $9,409 $5,255 3.3% $1,769 3.8%
Management of companies and enterprises $6,207 $5,106 3.3% $1,550 3.4%
Construction $11,820 $4,861 3.1% $208 0.4%
Administrative and waste management $8,653 $4,308 2.7% $1,090 2.4%
Transportation and warehousing $7,984 $4,094 2.6% $1,598 3.5%
Other services $6,549 $2,784 1.8% $605 1.3%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting $4,179 $2,662 1.7% $2,067 4.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation $3,848 $2,029 1.3% $890 1.9%
Utilities $3,798 $1,782 1.1% $646 1.4%
Educational services $2,258 $1,588 1.0% $373 0.8%

The following table shows more detail by industry sector. It is sorted in descending order by the column 2013 minus 2009.

Industry 2013 GDP (millions) 2013 minus 1997 % of Total 2013 minus 2009 % of Total
Mining $19,848 $17,964 11.4% $8,518 18.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing $40,194 $21,355 13.6% $6,895 14.9%
Professional, scientific, and technical services $26,355 $16,084 10.2% $4,233 9.1%
Government $36,226 $17,212 11.0% $2,979 6.4%
Wholesale trade $15,915 $7,818 5.0% $2,606 5.6%
Finance and insurance $14,480 $6,067 3.9% $2,436 5.3%
Health care and social assistance $17,438 $10,503 6.7% $2,262 4.9%
Manufacturing $21,600 $6,657 4.2% $2,171 4.7%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting $4,179 $2,662 1.7% $2,067 4.5%
Retail trade $16,105 $6,926 4.4% $1,965 4.2%
Accommodation and food services $9,409 $5,255 3.3% $1,769 3.8%
Transportation and warehousing $7,984 $4,094 2.6% $1,598 3.5%
Management of companies and enterprises $6,207 $5,106 3.3% $1,550 3.4%
Information $21,578 $12,019 7.7% $1,407 3.0%
Administrative and waste management $8,653 $4,308 2.7% $1,090 2.4%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation $3,848 $2,029 1.3% $890 1.9%
Utilities $3,798 $1,782 1.1% $646 1.4%
Other services $6,549 $2,784 1.8% $605 1.3%
Educational services $2,258 $1,588 1.0% $373 0.8%
Construction $11,820 $4,861 3.1% $208 0.4%