Page 35 - 416_

The bulk of America's wealth is produced by private industries and
businesses - expenditures for new plants and equipment totaled
$388.6 thousand million. In 2002 nearly 684,600 small businesses
were started. Yet by one count, some 75 percent of American products
currently face foreign competition within markets in the United States.
America has traditionally supported free trade. In 2002 the United
States exported $243.9 thousand million in goods and imported
$406.2 thousand million.
In 2002,119.9 million Americans were in the labor force,
representing 65.6 percent of the population over the age of 16. The
labor force has grown rapidly since 1955 as a result of the increased
number of working women. Women now constitute almost half of
America's total work force. The entry of the post-World War II "baby
boom" generation into the job market has also increased the work
force. Part-time employment has increased as well - 82.7 percent of all
workers have full-time, full-year jobs - the rest either work part-time,
part-year or both. The average American workweek was 41 hours in
2002.
American industries have become increasingly more service-
oriented. Of 12.6 million new jobs created since 1982, almost 85
percent have been in service industries. In particular, careers in
technical, business and health-related fields have experienced
employee growth in recent years. In 2002 approximately 22.8 million
Americans were employed in marketing. Almost 19 million work in
manufacturing and 16.7 million work for federal, state and local
governments.
Unemployment in the United States is six percent. The government
provides short-term unemployment compensation (from 20 to 39
weeks depending upon economic conditions) to replace wages lost
between jobs. Over 80 percent of all wage and salary earners are
covered by unemployment insurance. In addition, both the
government and private industry provide job training to help
unemployed and disadvantaged Americans.

AGRICULTURE

FACTS IN BRIEF:

TOTAL FARM POPULATION:
4.986,000