Colorado Employment Situation-March 2012

Employers in Colorado added 2,600 nonfarm payroll jobs from February to March for a total of 2,290,500 nonfarm payroll jobs, according to the survey of business establishments.  Private sector payroll jobs increased 2,600 and government was unchanged. 

According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate was unchanged over the month at 7.8 percent. The national unemployment rate decreased one tenth of a percentage point over the same period to 8.2 percent.  Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased from 33.9 to 34.3 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $23.87 to 24.16. 

The largest over the month private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, manufacturing, and education and health services.  Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 45,800.  The private sector payroll jobs increased 46,400 and government declined 600. The largest private sector job gains were in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services. The only significant decline in private sector payroll jobs was in information. 

Over the year, the unemployment rate is down seven tenths of a percentage point from 8.5 percent in March 2011. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 12,100, total employment increased 29,200 and the number of unemployed decreased 17,100. The national unemployment rate declined from 8.9 to 8.2 percent from March 2011 to March 2012. 

Unemployment percentages for southeast Colorado Counties are as follows: 

                                March 2012         Unemployed     February 2012   March 2011 

Baca                          3.7                            96                         4.1                       4.0
Bent                           7.7                          198                         8.3                       8.0
Kiowa                        3.3                            37                         3.7                       4.4
Kit Carson                4.7                          218                         5.1                       5.2
Las Animas            10.3                          804                       10.4                    10.2
Crowley                    8.8                          156                          8.9                      9.9
Otero                         9.2                          872                         9.1                      9.6
Prowers                    5.7                          416                         6.0                      6.1           

 

 

Filed Under: AgricultureBusinessChamber/Local BusinesscommunityCountyEconomyEmploymentGranadaHollyLamarThe Journal AlertWiley

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