Service Sector of Economy Continues Rapid State, National Growth

                     September 28, 1995


 Service Sector of Economy Continues Rapid State, National
Growth

Middletown, Pa. -- The service sector of both the state and
national economies far outdistanced the retail and wholesale
sectors in growth from 1982 to 1992.

     Figures compiled by the Pennsylvania State Data Center at
Penn State Harrisburg show that for the decade, the number of
service establishments in the United States increased 36.3 percent
from 1,339,229 to 1,925,435.  Pennsylvania saw a more
significant increase during the same 10 years, registering a 41.5
percent increase in the service sector.

     The number of retail establishments in the U.S. increased
7.3 percent during the period while Pennsylvania saw an 11.5
percent growth.  Wholesale establishments grew 13.9 percent
nationwide and 13.2 percent in the Commonwealth.

     The growth in sales among these sectors was largest in
service with a 181.6 percent increase nationwide from
$426,982,000 in 1982 to more than $1.2 billion in 1992. 
Pennsylvania had a 158.8 percent increase in sales during the
same period.  The other sectors also increased with nationwide
retail sales jumping 82.6 percent and wholesale sales 62.7
percent.  In Pennsylvania, retail increased 78.3 percent and
wholesale 61.1 percent.

     Along with the largest growth in sales, the service sector
chalked up a corresponding sizable increase in employment. 
Persons employed in the service sector nationwide increased 73.7
percent from 11,106,144 in 1982 to 19,290,352 in 1992.  In
Pennsylvania, the ranks of service employees increased 64 percent
from 485,850 to 797,051.  Employees in the retail sector
increased 27.4 percent nationwide and 23.5 percent in
Pennsylvania between 1982 and 1990.  There was a 19.8 percent
jump nationwide and 14.9 percent Pennsylvania boost in the
wholesale workforce during this period.

     The wholesale sector, however, had the largest payroll per
employee in 1992--$29,017 nationwide and $29,422 in
Pennsylvania.  The Commonwealth was also slightly higher than
the national figure in service sector payroll per employee--$23,513
to $23,468.  In the retail sector, Pennsylvania was below the
national figure of $12,107, with $11,657.

     The greatest number of Pennsylvania establishments in each
of the three sectors in 1992 were found in Allegheny County. 
There were 8,482 retail establishments, 2,904 wholesale
establishments and 10,726 service businesses.

     In 1992, a breakdown of the 71,652 retail establishments
in the Commonwealth showed 29.4 were eating and drinking
establishments and of the 77,829 service establishments, 27.9
were related to the health field.



The state-sponsored Pennsylvania State Data Center is the
commonwealth's official source of population and economic
statistics and services.  It is based at Penn State Harrisburg's
Institute of State and Regional Affairs, School of Public Affairs.
                      
EDITORS:  For additional or more detailed information contact
Jennifer Shultz at The Pennsylvania State Data Center at (717)
772-2710 or the Penn State Harrisburg Public Information Office
at (717) 948-6029. 

Source of Information:	1992 Economic Census, U.S. Census
			Bureau
			
Accompany Table:        PA 1992 Economic Census Profile