March Employment Figures for S.E. Colorado

Employers in Colorado added 500 non-farm payroll jobs from February to March for a total of 2,228,200 jobs, according to the survey of establishments. Government increased by 1,100 payroll jobs and the private sector declined by 600. The national unemployment rate dropped from 8.9 to 8.8 percent over the same period.

The unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.2% based on household survey results. The labor force increased 8,700 to 2,686,400 and total

employment increased 10,100. Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 11,100 with an increase of 14,200 in the private sector and a decline of 3,100 in government. The largest job gains were in education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.

March Employment Figures for S.E. Colorado percentages for southeast Colorado:
March 2011 February 2011 March 2011

The Prowers County labor force is estimated at 6,157 persons. San Juan County had the state’s highest unemployment rate at 19.5% with a labor force of 415; Cheyenne County had the state’s lowest unemployment rate at 3.6% with a labor force of 1,206 persons.