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: March 26, 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

February 2010

Labor Force[i]

Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose three-tenths of one percentage point to 7.7 percent in February, according to Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “Moderate fluctuations in the labor market are expected through the first part of the year as we put 2009 behind us,” noted Mares. Last February the unemployment rate was 7.3 percent.

The number of working Coloradans declined 3,300 over the month to 2,444,800 out of a civilian labor force of 2,647,700. The number of residents unsuccessfully looking for work increased 6,500 over the month to 202,900. Last February, total employment was 2,535,300, the civilian labor force was 2,734,200 and the number of unemployed was 198,900. Total employment has declined 90,500 since February 2009.

The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 30 of Colorado’s 64 counties, declined in 22 and remained unchanged in 12. The lowest rate was 3.4 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 18.7 percent in Dolores County. In February 2009, the unemployment rate increased in 60 counties, declined in two and was unchanged in two. Last year, the lowest rate was 3.4 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 13.3 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 1,700 in February to 2,205,700.

Employment increased in four of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors over the month. Professional and business services added 2,500 jobs, driven by an increase in professional, scientific and technical services; education and health increased 2,100, due to an increase in healthcare employment; trade, transportation, and utilities added 1,200 and mining and logging increased 400. Financial activities and leisure and hospitality declined 3,200 and 1,600, respectively, while manufacturing declined 1,100 due to losses in durable goods. Other losses included information (900), other services (700), construction (300), and government (100).

Nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the year by 3.7 percent, or 83,900, from the February 2009 level of 2,289,600.

Employment in two of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors increased over the year. Education and health services added 4,000 jobs and government 2,000. The remaining nine industry sectors all declined over the year. Employment in construction, down 30,300, experienced the largest decline of all industry sectors. Trade, transportation, and utilities and professional and business services declined 14,900 and 12,100, respectively. Manufacturing was down 10,500 and financial activities 7,800. Other losses included leisure and hospitality (5,800), mining and logging (4,300), information (3,700) and other services (500).

National[iii]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payroll employment was little changed (-36,000) in February, and the unemployment rate held steady at

9.7 percent.  Since the start of the recession in December 2007, payroll employment has fallen by 8.4 million.  Job losses continued in construction and information,

while employment continued to increase in temporary help services.