When measured by their contribution to total output, three broad sectors stand out as more important in the district than the nation (Table 1). These sectors are mining, which was 2.4 times as important in the district as the nation in 2004; agriculture, which was 1.7 times as important; transportation and warehousing, which was 1.3 times as important; and information and data processing, which was 1.2 times as important in the district than the nation. Major sectors that are less important in the district than the nation include finance and insurance, real estate services, professional and technical services, and manufacturing.

While the natural resource based industries are still more important in the district than in the nation, their role has declined over the past two decades as the district economy has come to resemble the national economy more closely. In 1980, for example, agriculture and mining accounted for nearly 14 percent of district output, versus less than 5 percent in 2004.² This convergence between the industrial structure of the district and the nation has had both benefits and costs. On the positive side, the district has become less vulnerable to boom and bust in commodity markets. But on the negative side, the district economy has also become more sensitive to the national business cycle.