Colorado Employment Situation – November 2011

Nonfarm payroll jobs in Colorado decreased by 4,500 from October to November to 2,247,600 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Government declined by 1,600 payroll jobs and the private sector declined by 2,900. 

According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 8.0 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force increased 17,600 to 2,715,200 and total employment increased 21,100 to 2,499,000 causing the number of unemployed to decline 3,500. The national unemployment rate declined fourteenths of one percentage point over the same period to 8.6 percent. 

Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased from 34.5 to 34.4 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $23.86 to $24.19. 

The largest over the month private sector job gains in November were in professional and business services. The largest declines were in trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, and financial activities. 

Over the year, the unemployment rate is down nine-tenths of one percentage point from 8.9 percent in November 2010. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 45,000, total employment increased 66,300 and the number of unemployed decreased 21,300. The national unemployment rate declined from 9.8 to 8.6 percent from November 2010 to November 2011. 

The unemployment percentages for southeast Colorado counties follow: 

                          November 2011          October 2011              November 2010 

Baca                           4.1                              3.7                               4.4
Bent                            8.4                              7.8                               8.2
Kiowa                          4.0                              3.9                               4.2
Kit Carson                    4.7                              4.3                               5.2
Las Animas                  8.1                              8.2                               9.2
Crowley                        9.6                              8.2                             10.8
Otero                           8.4                              8.2                               8.8
Prowers                       5.9                              5.8                                6.6