The map above shows areas of the U.S. with relatively high concentrations of construction activity in relation to area personal income. Dark red areas have construction labor earnings of $1.6 million and more for every $20 million in personal income - “very high” concentrations. Medium red areas have construction labor earnings of $1.3 to $1.6 million per $20 million in income (“high” dependencies). A heavy concentration of construction activity has emerged in the Rocky Mountain West, stretching from western Montana to southern Colorado and into New Mexico. The first chart shows trends in construction labor earnings among Rocky Mountain states since the mid-70s. Rapid growth began in the early ‘90s and is largely continuing. In Colorado, labor earnings of construction workers rose from $3.3 billion in 1990 to over $10.7 billion in 2004. The next chart shows percentage change in construction labor earnings for each state, comparing change from the mid-70s to 1990 and from 1990 to 2004. Construction labor earnings in Colorado increased by over 220% in the latter period. Construction expanded by 176% in Utah and by 131% in Montana. This growth has made all of these states much more construction dependent, as indicated in the lower chart by the amount of construction labor earnings for every $20 million in total personal income. Source: Larry Swanson, O’Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, U. of Montana