Colorado Employment Situation in April 2018

 

Employers in Colorado added 7,200 nonfarm payroll jobs from March to April for a total of 2,717,000 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 6,300 and government increased 900.

According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point from March to April to 2.9 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force increased 6,800 over the month to 3,056,100 and the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased 9,300 to 2,968,100, causing the number of unemployed to decline 2,500. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point in April to 3.9 percent.

Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.7 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $27.73 to $28.91.

The largest over the month private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and financial activities. The largest over the month decline was in education and health services.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 69,700, with an increase of 64,000 in the private sector and an increase of 5,700 in government. The largest private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and construction. There were no significant private sector over the year declines.

Over the year, the unemployment rate is up three-tenths of a percentage point from 2.6 percent. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 93,000, total employment increased 82,100 and the number of unemployed increased 10,900. The national unemployment rate declined from 4.4 percent in April 2017 to 3.9 percent in April 2018.

These are the unemployment percentages for counties in southeast Colorado:

 

April 2018 Unemployed March 2018 April 2017 Unemployed
Baca 1.6 33 1.6 1.6

34

Bent

2.8 54 3.1 2.2 41
Cheyenne 1.2 14 1.7 1.6

18

Crowley

3.8 56 4.1 2.6 37
Kiowa 1.3 13 1.6 1.7

16

Kit Carson

1.9 87 2.1 1.6 72
Las Animas 3.7 238 4.4 3.7

228

Otero

4.0 338 4.5 3.8 317
Prowers 2.4 149 2.9 2.3

142

Filed Under: AgricultureCity of GranadaCity of HollyCity of LamarCity of WileyConsumer IssuesCountyEconomyEmploymentFeaturedMedia Release

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