PRESS RELEASE

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment • 633 17^th Street, Suite 1200 • Denver, CO 80202 • (303) 318-8004 • Fax: (303) 318-8070

For Immediate Release

Date: May 21, 2010/ 9:00 A.M.

Contact: Office of Government and Public Relations

Phone: (303) 318-8004

Fax: (303) 318-8070

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

COLORADO EMPLOYMENT SITUATION

April 2010

Labor Force[i]

Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased one-tenth of one percentage point to 8.0 percent in April, according to Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Last April, the unemployment rate was 8.1 percent.

Mares says that Colorado “is now seeing thousands of formerly discouraged job seekers who had abandoned their job search renewing their efforts. That influx of workers caused the unemployment rate to bump up in April.” He stresses that recovery will be a bumpy road, “but the sustained job growth necessary to reduce Colorado’s unemployment rate will occur and when it does, we will achieve the traction necessary to get Colorado’s recovery fully underway.”

The number of working Coloradans increased 9,600 over the month to 2,455,800. The civilian labor force increased 12,300 to 2,668,400. The number of residents unsuccessfully looking for work increased 2,700 over the month to 212,600. Last April, total employment was 2,513,300 and the number of unemployed was 220,700. Total employment has declined 57,500 since April 2009.

The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) declined in 51 of Colorado’s 64 counties, rose in 11 and held steady in 2. The lowest rate was 3.6 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 18.2 percent in Dolores County. In April 2009, the unemployment rate decreased in 45 counties, increased in 16 and remained unchanged in 3. Last year, the lowest rate was 3.5 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 15.4 percent in Dolores County.

Wage and Salary Employment[ii]

The monthly survey of Colorado business establishments indicates the number of nonfarm wage and salary jobs decreased 4,200 in April to 2,200,300.

Employment increased in four of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors over the month. Financial activities added 1,400 jobs. Education & health services increased 900 and government added 800, driven by hiring for the 2010 Census. Employment in trade, transportation and utilities increased 500, driven by increases in wholesale and retail trade. Professional and business services and construction each declined 3,000, due to smaller than normal seasonal gains. Other losses included leisure and hospitality (700), mining and logging (600), and information (400). There was little change in manufacturing and other services.

Nonfarm payroll employment decreased 2.6 percent over the year, or 58,500, from the April 2009 level of 2,258,800.

Employment in two of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors increased over the year. Employment in education and health services increased 4,200 and government added 3,000 jobs. Eight of the remaining nine industry sectors all declined over the year. Construction, down 26,200, experienced the largest decline of all industry sectors. Trade, transportation, and utilities declined 7,900, professional and business services 7,700 and manufacturing 7,600. Other losses included leisure and hospitality (5,800), financial activities (4,500), information (3,500) and mining and logging (2,600). Other services was unchanged.

National[iii]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased 290,000 in April, the unemployment rate increased to 9.9 percent and the 
labor force increased sharply. Nonfarm payroll employment has increased by 573,000 in 2010 with a majority of the gain occurring in the past two months. 
Employment in manufacturing, professional and business services, health care, and leisure and hospitality increased. Federal government employment increased 
due to continued hiring of temporary workers for Census 2010.