In 1990, the manufacturing industry was the leading employer in most U.S. states, followed by retail trade. In 2003, retail trade was the leading employer in a majority of states. By 2013, health care and social assistance was the dominant industry in 34 states. This animated map shows the top industry in each state and the District of Columbia from 1990 to 2013.
It's amazing to see how priorities have shifted over time. Also, this is a great display of how technology has taken over what once was human labor.
Shifting economies.
This interactive map is a powerful way to visually display the changes in the economic geography of the United States. It is especially useful when discussing the transition of an economy from the secondary sector to tertiary sector.