Recently released employment data from Q3-2012 shows steady growth in the Rural Capital Area over the previous four quarters in all industries, except Government. Between Q3-2011 and Q3-2012, employment in the Rural Capital Area grew 3.1%, creating nearly 7,300 jobs. The fastest growing industries during this period were Natural Resources & Mining (10.3% growth), Education & Health Services (7.8%), and Professional & Business Services (5.0%). Trade, Transportation, & Utilities remained relatively flat over this year, growing only 0.4%. The only industry to decline during this period was Government, which saw employment drop by 3.2%.

Salaries in the Rural Capital Area did not perform as well as jobs during the period from Q3-2011 to Q3-2012, with the average salary for all industries declining 1.5% to reach $41,900. Only four industries in the Rural Capital Area saw average salaries grow over this period: Natural Resources & Mining (5.9% growth), Financial Activities (1.9%), Manufacturing (1.6%), and Trade, Transportation, & Utilities (0.8%). The regional industries with the greatest drops in average salary were Information & Publishing (-9.3%), Other Services (-6.2%), and Professional & Business Services (-3.6%).