The first table compares the average yearly income in six sectors – finance, public service, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and wholesale & retail trade – in 2004, as well as the percentage change from 2003. The second pie chart shows how graduates were distributed among these same areas.
Overall, all sectors experienced a rise in their average salaries between 2003 and 2004. The highest earnings were found in the public service sector, while agriculture remained the lowest. In terms of graduates, public service accounted for the largest share, whereas finance had the smallest.
In 2004, people working in public service earned the highest average income at $92,000 per year, which represented a 3.7% increase compared to 2003. The finance sector followed with an average of $83,000, almost double that of agriculture, which was $40,000. Employees in transportation also earned relatively high salaries, at $81,000, after a 4.5% rise from the previous year.
The wholesale and retail trade sector recorded the most noticeable growth, with salaries going up by 8.4% to $77,000. The manufacturing field saw a smaller increase of 4%, reaching $52,000, while agriculture remained the lowest-paid industry, though it still experienced a slight increase in pay similar to that of finance.
According to the second pie chart, public service graduates made up the largest group, accounting for 30% of the total. Agriculture ranked second with 25%, and manufacturing came next at 20%. Both transportation and wholesale & retail trade had equal proportions of 10% each, while finance had the lowest figure at 5%.