Economy & Economic Development  May 18, 2018

Region’s jobless rate continues to decline below 3%

DENVER — The unemployment rates in Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld counties declined again in April compared with March, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s monthly jobs report released Friday. All four counties in the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado also had posted lower jobless rates in March than in February.

Boulder County’s jobless rate dipped to 2.3 percent in April from 2.5 percent in March, but was slightly higher than the 2.2 percent it recorded in April a year ago. According to the survey, 187,829 people in the county had jobs while 4,382 people were looking for work.

In Broomfield County, the unemployment rate also fell to 2.3 percent in April from 2.5 percent in March, but Broomfield’s April jobless rate was lower than the 2.4 percent it recorded in April 2017. The survey found 37,769 people employed in the county last month, while 879 workers lacked employment.

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Larimer County’s 2.2 percent jobless rate matched the figure from the same month a year ago and was down from 2.5 percent in March. A total of 195,554 workers were employed in the county, while 4,400 were unemployed.

Weld County’s 2.4 percent unemployment rate in April matched the figure for April 2017 and was down from 2.7 percent in March. A total of 157,917 people were employed in the county, while 3,837 were jobless.

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 by 6,300 and government increased 900.
Statewide, 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 by 2,500.

The U.S. unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point in April to 3.9 percent, compared with 4.4 percent in April 2017.
Over the year in Colorado, 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.

 

DENVER — The unemployment rates in Boulder, Broomfield, Larimer and Weld counties declined again in April compared with March, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s monthly jobs report released Friday. All four counties in the Boulder Valley and Northern Colorado also had posted lower jobless rates in March than in February.

Boulder County’s jobless rate dipped to 2.3 percent in April from 2.5 percent in March, but was slightly higher than the 2.2 percent it recorded in April a year ago. According to the survey, 187,829 people in the county had jobs while 4,382…

Dallas Heltzell
With BizWest since 2012 and in Colorado since 1979, Dallas worked at the Longmont Times-Call, Colorado Springs Gazette, Denver Post and Public News Service. A Missouri native and Mizzou School of Journalism grad, Dallas started as a sports writer and outdoor columnist at the St. Charles (Mo.) Banner-News, then went to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before fleeing the heat and humidity for the Rockies. He especially loves covering our mountain communities.
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