According to a July 19 press release from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), Archuleta County’s unemployment rate rose to 3.7 percent for the month of June, up from 3.6 percent for the month of May.
The highest unemployment rate reported for Archuleta County so far this year was for the month of February at 4.5 percent, and the lowest rate reported so far this year was for the month April at 3.2 percent.
Archuleta County’s labor force increased from 7,002 in May to 7,092 in June, with 6,833 individuals employed, according to the CDLE report.
According to the CDLE press release, the counties with the highest unemployment rate in the state for the month of June are Las Animas County and Huerfano County at 6 percent, followed by Fremont County at 5.7 percent, Rio Grande County at 4.9 percent, and Alamosa County at 4.8 percent.
The counties with the lowest unemployment rate are San Juan County and Cheyenne County at 2.1 percent, according to the report.
Our neighbors to the west in La Plata County had an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent. Hinsdale County had a rate of 2.8 percent, Mineral County had a rate of 3.4 percent and our neighbors to the east in Conejos County had a rate of 4.1 percent.
County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
The state’s unemployment rate was unchanged from May to June at 3.8 percent, according to the press release.
The state’s labor force increased from 3,203,625 in May to 3,261,957 in June, according to the CDLE report.
“The number of individuals employed in Colorado grew by 2,600 in June to 3,113,000, which represents 65.3 percent of the state’s 16 [plus] population. Colorado’s employment population ratio of 65.3 in June was equal to the month prior. The national employment population ratio was also flat from May to June at 60.1 percent,” the press release states.
Employers in Colorado added 1,400 nonfarm payroll jobs from May to June for a total of 2,989,100 jobs. Private-sector payroll jobs grew by 600, while the government added 800 jobs.
Nonfarm payroll jobs measure the number of workers excluding farmers.
The private-industry sector with significant job gains over the month of June was other services at about 1,200.
Significant private-sector job losses of the month June occurred in construction at about 1,100.
“Since June 2023, nonfarm payroll jobs have increased 40,900, with the private sector growing by 19,800 and government adding 21,100 jobs,” the press release states.
Since June 2023 the largest private-sector job gains include:
• Educational and health services at about 12,500.
• Professional and business services at about 8,000.
• Financial activities at about 4,200.
During the same time period, payroll jobs declined in:
• Trade, transportation and utilities at about 6,000.
• Construction at about 4,200.
• Information at about 3,000.
The press release notes that Colorado’s rate of job growth over the past year is 1.4 percent, which is below the U.S. rate of 1.7 percent.
“Over the year, the average workweek for all Colorado employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased from 33.2 to 34.2 hours, while average hourly earnings grew from $35.18 to $37.98, nearly three dollars more than the national average hourly earnings of $35.00,” the report states.
The July 2024 Colorado Employment Situation report will be released on Aug. 16, according to the CDLE.
clayton@pagosasun.com
