2012 AUGUST-MASHPEE EDIC Plan for Executive Park

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4 which manufactured electronic interconnection components, accounted for two-thirds of this manufacturing employment. With its closure, Mashpee lost the majority of its industrial jobs, with approximately 275 workers affected by the closing. Augat was one of the best sources of quality, year-round employment for Mashpee residents and a notable employer of low-income and minority residents. Finance, insurance, and real estate has been a significant source of growth in the region and an important component of Mashpee's economy. Finance, insurance, and real estate accounted for 18.5 percent of total 1993 Mashpee employment, more than three times that of Barnstable County or the U.S. However,this sector has not come to account for a greater share of employment among Mashpee residents. Although the number of residents employed in this industry grew over 110 percent between 1980 and 1990, the proportion of employed residents working in it fell slightly from 6.8 percent in 1980 to 6.4 percent in 1990. While employment in the agriculture,forestry, and fishing industry appears strong in Mashpee as in Barnstable County when compared to the nation and state, in Mashpee, this sector is highly dependent on landscapers and has only a modest natural resource-based sector. In 1992, 1.6 percent of total Barnstable County-based jobs were in this sector, while the national figure was a mere 0.6 percent. Landscape and horticultural services, agricultural services, and veterinary services were much more important in the county than in the U.S. as a whole. Mashpee's agricultural sector is almost entirely dependent on landscapers and veterinarians. Mashpee-based transportation, communications, and utilities employment has shown remarkable growth. Between 1984 and 1989, Mashpee employment in this industry jumped over 71 percent, but still employed only 48 people in 1993, making up only 2.2 percent of total employment. However, in 1990, a larger percentage of Mashpee residents were employed in the industry than in the county, state, and nation. Mashpee-based government employment has expanded significantly since 1984 in order to cope with the Town's growing population. In 1993, it accounted for 13.1 percent of Mashpee employment, about 280 jobs. The growth of the government sector is no doubt a result of Mashpee's burgeoning population, which requires more public school teachers and municipal services to fill its needs. As is true for so many other sectors however,the share of Mashpee residents employed in public administration in 1990 was less than in 1980, in spite of the sector's growth within the Town. The service sector is an important component of the region's economic base and a growing source of employment for area residents. The service sector in Mashpee is considerably less important than it is nationally, accounting in 1993 for just under 15 percent of total employment as opposed to 27 percent nationwide, but between 1984 and 1989 it grew 77.6 percent. The number of people employed in Mashpee's service sector has grown steadily from 156 in 1984 to 319 in 1993. The service sector is one of the few that has come to account for a greater proportion of total residence-based employment since 1980. Health services are an important part of the Cape's service sector, accounting for a greater proportion of total employment than in the U.S. Cape Cod is developing a small cluster of high technology-based companies,particularly in the areas of marine technology, software, and telecommunications. Anecdotal information points to the emerging presence of high tech service and manufacturing firms clustered particularly on the Upper Cape. There is a growing presence of software companies on the Cape, such as Software 2000, as well as companies specializing in Internet access, such as the Mashpee firm, CCS World, and Fishnet New Media. A Falmouth company, Associates of Cape Cod, has successfully transferred technology from research institutions such as Marine Biological Laboratory and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. i 6