Archuleta County’s unemployment rate for June rose by three-tenths of a percentage point compared to last month, according to a report issued this week by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), but this could be more indicative of the influx of new residents to Pagosa Country rather than any weakening of the local economy.
While there were more people in the county holding jobs — 5,943 in June compared to 5,694 in May — there were also more people claiming unemployment — 292 compared to 265. This caused the unemployment rate to bump up from 4.4 to 4.7 percent. Overall, 276 new workers joined the county’s labor force, bringing the total number of workers up to 6,235.
In addition, the picture is quite a bit better than last year, when there were only 5,969 people in the local work force, with 333 of those claiming unemployment, making the unemployment rate 5.6 percent.
Looking at the employment situation for the rest of the state, Huerfano County had the highest unemployment rate for the month with 8.5 percent, while Dolores County had the lowest with 2.3 percent.
Overall, the state’s unemployment rate was also on the rise, increasing one-tenth of a percentage point in June to 4.4 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force decreased 5,600 over the month to 2,823,400 and the number of people reporting themselves as employed decreased 7,100 to 2,699,100. The larger decrease in total employment than in labor force caused the number of unemployed to increase 1,500 and the unemployment rate to increase to 4.4 percent.
The full version of this story is available in the print edition and e-edition of the Pagosa Springs SUN. Subscribe today by calling (970)264-2100 or click here.
