Region’s unemployment rates fall slightly

DENVER – Employers in Colorado added 3,200 nonfarm payroll jobs from
June to July according to figures released Friday by the state
Department of Labor and Employment. The state’s unemployment rate was
unchanged from the previous month at 8.5 percent.

The latest survey of business establishments showed that government
payroll jobs declined by 900 and the private sector added 4,100 for a
total of 2.24 million jobs. However, the state’s labor force decreased
by 7,600 to 2.67 million and total employment decreased 5,300 to 2.45
million, causing the number of unemployed to drop 2,300.

Based on household survey results, not seasonally adjusted figures for
Larimer County showed an unemployment rate of 6.9 percent for July, down
from the 7 percent reported in June and 7.3 percent in July 2010.

The unemployment rate in Weld County also fell in July, to 9.9 percent from 10.1 percent reported in both June and July 2010.

The largest monthly private sector job gains statewide in July were in
leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and
manufacturing. The largest declines were in construction, and trade,
transportation and utilities.

The national unemployment rate decreased from 9.2 percent to 9.1 percent over the same period.

Colorado’s overall unemployment rate is down three-tenths of a
percentage point from 8.8 percent in July 2010, while the national
unemployment rate declined from 9.5 percent to 9.1 percent over the
year.