For Immediate Release

 

Date:                      October 21, 2009

Contact:                 Office of Government, Policy and Public Relations

Phone:                   (303) 318-8004

Fax:                        (303) 318-8070

Web:                       http://lmigateway.coworkforce.com/lmigateway/

 

 

COLORADO LABOR FORCE DEVELOPMENTS

FOR SEPTEMBER 2009

 

Labor Force^[i]

 

Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.0 percent in September, according to Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “September results indicate the worst is behind us here in Colorado,” said Mares. “The trend of fewer job losses should continue in coming months,” he continued. The September 2008 unemployment rate was 5.0 percent.

 

The number of working Coloradans fell 2,300 over the month to 2,483,600 out of a civilian labor force of 2,671,000. The number of residents unsuccessfully seeking work fell 9,800 to 187,400. Last September total employment was 2,596,900, the civilian labor force was 2,732,800 and the number of unemployed was 135,900.

 

Local labor markets exhibited typical seasonal movements as the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) declined in 51 of Colorado’s 64 counties with the start of the school year, while 9 county rates increased and 4 were unchanged. The lowest rate was 2.0 percent in Cheyenne County while the highest was 13.2 percent in Dolores County. Last year 50 counties experienced an over the month unemployment rate decline, 8 county rates increased and 6 were unchanged. In September 2008 the lowest rate was 2.2 percent in Yuma County and the highest was 8.0 percent in Saguache County.

 

Wage and Salary Employment^[ii]

 

The monthly survey of Colorado business establishments indicates nonfarm wage and salary jobs (not seasonally adjusted) decreased 9,000 in September to 2,249,100.

 

Employment in two of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors increased over the month. Government added 18,200 jobs as teachers and staff returned to work for the school year. Education and health services payrolls increased 2,000 for largely the same reason. Leisure and hospitality lost 13,900 jobs as the summer tourism season came to a close; this industry is expected to pick up again over the next few months as winter approaches. Construction and professional and business services continued to decline with losses of 4,300 and 3,700 jobs, respectively. The loss of 3,600 jobs in trade, transportation and utilities was a result of businesses in wholesale and retail trade responding to continued declines in consumer spending. Other services and mining and logging declined by 1,200 and 1,000 jobs, respectively. And the smallest job losses occurred in financial activities which declined by 900 jobs, information by 400, and manufacturing by 200.

 

Nonfarm payroll employment has decreased over the year by 4.7 percent or 112,100 from the September 2008 level of 2,361,200.

 

Two of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors increased over the year. Education and health services grew 6,900, while government increased 4,100. Professional and business services and construction, down 28,300 and 25,600, respectively, account for almost half of Colorado’s employment losses. Other losses are: trade, transportation and utilities (19,200), manufacturing (13,900), leisure and hospitality (13,700), financial activities (8,000), mining and logging (6,800), information (4,500), and other services (3,100).

 

National^[iii]

 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation’s unemployment rate was 9.8 percent and nonfarm payroll employment declined by 263,000 in September. While health care increased 19,000, employment declined over the month in construction and manufacturing, down 63,000 and 51,000, respectively.