Fargo Moorhead’s economy consistently ranks among the highest of 381 metropolitan areas in vitality, according to Moody’s economy.com. Gains in income and employment consistently exceed the national average, and the region has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. Our community benefits from a diverse and solid base of industry that includes national and global names like Microsoft, John Deere, Bobcat, Case New Holland, Caterpillar, Nokia, Titan Machinery, Tech Mahindra, U.S. Bank, Bank of the West, and Wells Fargo.
Economic Indicators
| Data | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Employment | 115,961 | 115,766 | 115,225 | 116,061 | 117,286 |
| Change over previous year (%) | -1.3 | -0.2 | -0.5 | 0.1 | 1.0 |
| Unemployment Rate (%) | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 3.2 |
| Average Annual Wage | $37,284 | $38,220 | $40,196 | $41,964 | $42,868 |
| Average Annual Wage Growth (%) | 1.4 | 2.5 | 5.2 | 4.4 | 2.2 |
Source: Job Service ND; LAUS and QCEW
Employment by Industry
| Industry | No. Employed in Nov. 2014 | Change from Nov. 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Non-Farm | 140,800 | 5,400 |
| Total Private | 122,400 | 5,400 |
| Goods-Producing | 20,400 | 1,700 |
| Service-Providing | 120,400 | 3,700 |
| Private Service-Providing | 102,000 | 3,700 |
| - Mining, Logging, and Construction | 10,100 | 1,600 |
| Manufacturing | 10,300 | 100 |
| Trade, Transportation, & Utilities | 30,800 | 900 |
| - Wholesale Trade | 9,400 | 400 |
| - Retail Trade | 16,300 | 300 |
| - Transportation, Warehousing, & Utilities | 5,100 | 200 |
| Information | 3,300 | 0 |
| Financial Activities | 10,000 | 200 |
| Professional & Business Services | 16,000 | 300 |
| Education & Health Services | 22,500 | 700 |
| Leisure & Hospitality | 14,200 | 1,600 |
| Other Services | 5,200 | 0 |
| Government | 18,400 | 0 |
Source: Job Service N.D., Current Employment Statistics
Employment by Occupation
| Occupation | Employment |
|---|---|
| Office & Administrative Support | 20,790 |
| Sales & Related Occupations | 14,690 |
| Food Prep & Serving-Related | 11,580 |
| Transportation & Materials Moving | 9,610 |
| Production | 8,050 |
| Healthcare Practitioners & Tech | 7,810 |
| Education, Training & Library | 7,340 |
| Business & Financial Operations | 6,680 |
| Extraction & Construction Occupations | 6,630 |
| Management | 5,670 |
| Installation, Maintenance & Repair | 5,190 |
| Personal Care Service | 5,060 |
| Building & Grounds Cleaning & Maintenance | 4,430 |
| Healthcare Support | 3,430 |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | 3,130 |
| Architecture & Engineering | 1,990 |
| Art, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media | 1,720 |
| Protective Services | 1,700 |
| Community &Social Service Occupations | 1,570 |
| Life, Physical & Social Sciences | 960 |
| Legal | 590 |
| Farming, Fishing & Forestry | 370 |
Source: BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2013
