PRESS RELEASE

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

 

For Immediate Release

 

Date:                January 25, 2011/ 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

December 2010

 

Labor Force[i]

 

Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased two-tenths of one percentage point to 8.8 percent in December, according to Ellen Golombek, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. “Despite the rising unemployment rate, we’ve had over the year wage and salary employment growth in Colorado for the first time in almost two and a half years,” Ms. Golombek said. “And, we’ve added jobs four consecutive months.”

 

The number of working Coloradans fell 2,000 over the month to 2,431,900. The civilian labor force increased 1,300 to 2,665,200. The number of residents unsuccessfully looking for work increased 3,300 over the month to 233,300. One year ago, total employment was 2,452,700, the civilian labor force was 2,644,600 and the number of unemployed was 191,900. The civilian labor force has increased 20,600 since December 2009.

 

The unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) increased in 32 of Colorado’s 64 counties, decreased in 23, and remained unchanged in nine. The lowest rate was 4.0 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 18.5 percent in Dolores County. In December 2009, the unemployment rate increased in 50 counties, decreased in 8 counties and remained unchanged in six. Last year, the lowest rate was 2.6 percent in Cheyenne County and the highest was 16.3 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 increased 500 in December to 2,209,400.

 

Employment increased over the month in three of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors. Leisure and hospitality increased 2,700; trade, transportation and utilities 1,200; and education and health services 800. Employment declined in government 1,100, manufacturing 900, financial activities 900, construction 500, information 400, other services 300, and mining and logging 100. There was no change in professional and business services.

 

Nonfarm payroll employment increased 0.2 percent over the year, or 5,100, from the December 2009 level of 2,204,300.

 

Employment increased in four of Colorado’s eleven major industry sectors over the year. Education and health services increased 9,600, leisure and hospitality 6,200, professional & business services 3,800, and trade, transportation and utilities 1,400. Construction, down 5,700, continues to post the largest decline of all industry sectors. Information declined 3,500, financial activities 3,100, manufacturing 2,800, government 700 and other services 100. There was no change in mining and logging.

 

National[iii]

 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate fell four-tenths of one percentage point to 9.4 percent in December, and nonfarm payroll employment increased 103,000. Since December 2009, nonfarm payroll employment has increased by 1,124,000 and private-sector employment has increased by 1,346,000. Employment rose in leisure and hospitality and in health care this month, but was little changed in other major industries.

 


Note: Revised estimation procedures mandated by BLS with the 2010 estimates may result in greater month-to-month employment volatility. These survey-based estimates are revised annually based on more complete information filed by employers with the State of Colorado.

 

[i] Labor force estimates are calculated from the household survey results, using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics methods. The unadjusted statewide and county level estimates are available at the following link: http://lmigateway.coworkforce.com/lmigateway/gsipub/index.asp?docid=363

 

[ii] Wage and salary employment estimates are calculated from the establishment survey results, using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Employment Statistics methods. The statewide adjusted and unadjusted, and the unadjusted MSA estimates are available at the following link:

http://lmigateway.coworkforce.com/lmigateway/gsipub/index.asp?docid=364

 

[iii] The Bureau of Labor Statistics homepage is available at the following link: http://www.bls.gov/