Colorado Employment Situation | July 2015

Total nonfarm payroll jobs declined 2,200 from June to July to 2,517,300 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs decreased 3,300 and government increased 1,100.

According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point in July to 4.3 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force decreased 10,200 over the month to 2,812,700 and the number of people reporting themselves as employed decreased 7,900 to 2,690,700. The larger decrease in the labor force than in total employment caused the number of unemployed to decrease 2,200 and the unemployment rate to decrease to 4.3 percent. The national unemployment rate was unchanged from June to July at 5.3 percent.

Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased from 34.5 to 34.1 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $26.10 to $26.70.

The largest over the month private sector job gains were in trade, transportation and utilities. The largest over the month declines were in education and health services, professional and business services, and construction.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 50,200 with an increase of 42,400 in the private sector and an increase of 7,800 in government. The largest private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, education and health services, and construction. Information and professional and business services declined over the year.

Over the year, the unemployment rate is down five-tenths of a percentage point from 4.8 percent in July 2014. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force decreased 5,200, total employment increased 8,100 and the number of unemployed decreased 13,200. The national unemployment rate declined from 6.2 to 5.3 percent from July 2014 to July 2015.

Here are the unemployment percentages for southeast Colorado counties: