Colorado Employment Situation, September 2014

Colorado Counties

Nonfarm payroll jobs increased 14,600 over the month from August to September, to 2,464,500 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 14,700 and government decreased 100 over the month.

Colorado has had 35 consecutive months of payroll job gains. According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased four tenths of a percentage point in September to 4.7 percent. The last time the Colorado unemployment rate was as low as 4.7 percent was June 2008.

The number of people participating in the labor force decreased 400 over the month and the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased 11,300. The increase in total employment and the decrease in labor force caused the number of unemployed to decrease 11,700 and the unemployment rate to decline to 4.7 percent.

The national unemployment rate decreased two tenths of a percentage point in September to 5.9 percent.   Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased from 35.2 to 34.3 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $26.11 to $26.39.

The largest over the month private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and financial activities. There were no private sector over the month declines.   Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 67,400. Private sector payroll jobs increased 62,400 and government increased 5,000.

The largest private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, education and health services, and professional and business services. Financial activities and information declined over the year.

Over the year, the unemployment rate declined one and nine tenths of a percentage point from 6.6 percent in September 2013. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 50,300, total employment increased 101,700 and the number of unemployed decreased 51,500.

The national unemployment rate declined from 7.2 percent in September 2013 to 5.9 percent in September 2014.

The unemployment percentages for southeast Colorado are as follows:

Sept 2014            Unemp       Aug 2014              Sept 2014            Unemp

Baca                       1.7                          45                 2.1                          3.9                          80
Bent                      4.1                          104               4.7                          7.5                          154
Kiowa                   2.0                          22                2.4                          3.6                          31
Kit Carson           2.3                          118               2.9                          4.1                          170
Las Animas         4.8                          376              6.0                          9.2                          697
Crowley               5.3                          89                 5.9                          10.0                        158
Otero                    5.0                          482              6.6                          7.9                          694
Prowers               3.2                          223               4.0                          6.1                          603