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2. Employment <br />Approximately 3.5 million people are employed in the Basin economy. The largest single <br />employment sector is the public sector (includes all levels of government), which accounts for <br />16.9 percent of total employment. The combined manufacturing sector is only slightly behind <br />the public sector, with 15.4 percent of total employment within the Colorado River Basin <br />States. The recreation services sector is also a very significant part of total employment at <br />10.5 percent. The electric power production sector is around 0.5 percent of the total <br />employment. Combined agricultural employment is approximately 4.3 percent of total <br />employment (the livestock feed sector is 0.19 percent of employment, and the other crops <br />sector is approximately 0.17 percent of employment). The petroleum and gas production <br />sector accounts for about 0.2 percent of total employment. <br />3. Historical Development of the Basin <br />The rapid urbanization of the Basin has had a significant effect on the endangered fishes. <br />This is reflected in the fraction of the population living in urban areas in 1990 as compared <br />with this fraction in 1950. With the exception of California, this fraction was in the 50-65 <br />percent range in 1950 and is now in the 65-90 percent range. The major consequence has <br />been a significant increase in the use of water and electric power. <br />I-15 <br />