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1-34 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Colorado In the Ogallala area of the state, farming and ranching are the mainstay of the economy. Agricul ture-rel ated services and cattl e feedi ng operati ons are also important employment generators. State researchers in Colorado noted that increased mechanization may be the prime reason for the decreasing trend in the number of farm workers as well as the increase in agricultural service workers, particularly those jobs oriented toward machinery and equipment sales and services. Logan, Lincoln, and Prowers Counti es exhi bit a more di versifi ed employment base than the other counties. Only 12-18% of the employment in these three counties is related to agriculture, as compared to 26-38% for agriculturally-related employment in the other High Plains counties. Among the nonagricultural employment sectors, government, retail and whol esal e trades, and servi ces are the most significant categories. Nebraska Nonagricultural employment accounts for about 90% of total jobs in the state. Within this broad category, wholesale and retail trade, government, services and manufacturing were the leading employers. Farm employment has decreased as a percentage of total employment over the past two decades. The relative amount of farm employment in the Ogallala portion of the state would be much higher than the 10% statewide average, due to the fact that major population and employment centers such as Lincoln and Omaha are outside of the High Plains Region. New Mexico Total employment in New Mexico in about one-half million. Agricultural/ forestry/fisheries-related employment has dropped as a percentage of total employment and in absolute terms from 1950 to 1970. Maj or industri al employers include wholesale and retail trade, educational services, govern- ment, construction and manufacturing.