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: April 16, 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

March 2010

Labor Force[i]

Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased two-tenths of one percentage point to 7.9 percent in March, according to Donald J. Mares, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “While results for March are mixed, the Colorado job market continues to stabilize,” said Mares. “Improving conditions are encouraging Coloradans to return to the labor force, contributing to the increase in the unemployment rate,” he continued. Last March the unemployment rate was 7.7 percent.

The number of working Coloradans increased 1,600 over the month to 2,446,200 and the civilian labor force increased 8,400 to 2,656,000. The number of residents unsuccessfully looking for work increased 6,700 over the month to 209,800. Last March, total employment was 2,523,800, the civilian labor force was 2,735,500 and the number of unemployed was 211,700. Total employment has declined 77,600 since March 2009 and the over-the-year decline in the number of unemployed residents is the first since October 2007.

The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 39 of Colorado’s 64 counties, declined in 19 and held steady in 6. The lowest rate was 3.2 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 19.9 percent in Dolores County. In March 2009, the unemployment rate increased in 53 counties, declined in 9 and remained unchanged in 2. Last year, the lowest rate was 3.5 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 15.1 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 1,600 in March to 2,202,900.

Employment increased in three of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors over the month. Government added 2,300 jobs, driven by an employment increase of 1,900 in Federal Government due primarily to hiring of temporary workers for the 2010 Census. Professional and business services increased 1,600, driven by an increase in the administration and support component, and financial activities added 200. Construction declined 2,600, while education and health services decreased 700. Other losses included trade, transportation and utilities (600), other services (500), mining and logging (400), leisure and hospitality (400), information (300) and manufacturing (200).

Nonfarm payroll employment decreased 3.1 percent over the year, or 69,200, from the March 2009 level of 2,272,100.

Employment in two of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors increased over the year. Government added 5,300 jobs with the gain attributable to increased federal employment for the 2010 Census and increased employment in state and local education. Employment in education and health services increased 2,400. The remaining nine industry sectors all declined over the year. Employment in construction, down 28,600, experienced the largest decline of all industry sectors. Trade, transportation, and utilities and manufacturing declined 10,800 and 8,800, respectively. Professional and business services was down 8,300 and financial activities 6,100. Other losses included leisure and hospitality (5,400), mining and logging (4,100), information (3,800) and other services (1,000).

National[iii]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that nonfarm payroll employment increased 162,000 in March, and the unemployment rate held at 9.7 percent. This 
employment increase was the largest in the past three years, and the third in the past five months. Temporary help services and health care continued to add jobs 
over the month. Employment in Federal government also rose, reflecting the hiring of temporary workers for Census 2010. Employment continued to decline in
financial activities and information.