According to a May 17 press release from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Archuleta County’s unemployment rate dropped from 4 percent in March to 3.2 percent in April.
This is the lowest rate reported so far this year and is down more than 1 percent from February’s rate of 4.5 percent.
The county began the year with an unemployment rate of 4 percent for the month of January, according to CDLE reports.
Archuleta County’s labor force grew by 239 from March to April, going from 6,607 to 6,846. The county began the year with a labor force of 6,541 in January and saw a slight increase to 6,639 for the month of February.
For the month of April there were 6,624 individuals employed in Archuleta County. This is up 282 from the March report of 6,342 individuals being employed in the county. There were 6,338 individuals employed in February and 6,282 individuals employed in January.
County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
According to the press release, the county with the highest unemployment rate for April was San Miguel County at 5.6 percent, followed by Huerfano County at 5.5 percent and then Las Animas county at 5.2 percent. They are the only three countries with a rate of 5 percent or higher for April.
Our neighbor to the west, La Plata County, had a rate of 3 percent. Mineral County had a rate of 2.9 percent and Hinsdale County had a rate of 3.6. Rio Grande County had a rate of 4.5 percent and Conejos County had a rate of 3.6 percent.
According to the same press release, the counties with the lowest unemployment rates in April were Cheyenne County at 1.8 percent and Yuma and Phillips counties next, both with a rate of 2 percent. Baca and Kiowa counties follow, both with a rate of 2.2 percent.
The state’s unemployment rate remains unchanged from the March reading at 3.7 percent. The state’s unemployment rate in January was 3.4 percent, and in February was 3.5 percent.
The state’s labor force increased by 1,500 in April to 3,236,800.
“The share of Coloradans participating in the labor force was unchanged in April at 68 [percent],” according to the press release.
The press release also notes, “Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was flat from March to April at 3.7 percent. The number of unemployed individuals grew by 1,900 over the same time period to 120,100. The national unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.9 percent from March to April.”
Employers in Colorado added 300 nonfarm payroll jobs from March to April, bringing the total number of jobs in Colorado to 2,981,100.
Nonfarm payroll jobs measure the number of workers excluding farmers.
“Private sector payroll jobs shed by 600, while government added 900 jobs,” the press release states.
The private sector with significant job gains in April was in educational and health services at about 4,600.
The largest private-sector job losses in April were in professional and business services at about 3,100, and construction at about 1,700.
“Since April 2023, nonfarm payroll jobs have increased 51,800, with the private sector growing by 27,200 and government adding 24,600 jobs,” the press release notes.
Since April 2023, the largest private-sector job gains include:
• Educational and health services at about 19,400.
• Leisure and hospitality at about 7,600.
• Professional and business services at about 5,800.
Since April 2023 the largest private sector job losses include:
• Trade, transportation and utilities at about 6,000.
• Construction at about 4,300.
• Information at about 2,500.
Colorado’s rate of job growth over the past year is equal to the country’s rate at 1.8 percent.
According to the press release, “Over the year, the average workweek for all Colorado employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased from 33.5 to 33.6 hours, while average hourly earnings grew from $35.72 to $38.00, three dollars and twenty-five cents more than the national average hourly earnings of $34.75.”
clayton@pagosasun.com
