Below is the most recent economic press release issued by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. For more information about state economic statistics, click here for Labor Market Information.
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment • 633 17th Street, Suite 1200 • Denver, CO 80202 • (303) 318-8004 • Fax: (303) 318-8070
For Immediate Release
Date: May 17, 2013/ 8:00 A.M.
Contact: Office of Government and Public Relations
Phone: Bill Thoennes at (303) 318-8004 or Cher Haavind at (303) 318-8003
Fax: (303) 318-8070
Nonfarm payroll jobs increased 11,600 from March to April to 2,362,700 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 11,600 and government was unchanged.
According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased two tenths of one percentage point over the month to 6.9 percent. The decrease in the unemployment rate was caused by a larger increase in the number of people reporting their status as employed than in the number of people actively participating in the labor force. The national unemployment rate decreased one tenth of a percentage point over the month to 7.5 percent.
Colorado nonfarm payroll jobs from the business establishment survey are 800 below the May 2008 peak of 2,363,500 prior to the Great Recession. The number of Coloradans reporting themselves as employed in the survey of households is 36,100 below the March 2008 total employment peak of 2,611,300.
Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased from 35.1 to 34.3 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $24.87 to $25.49.
The largest over the month private sector job gains were in professional and business services, other services, and leisure and hospitality. The largest over the month decline was in trade, transportation and utilities.
Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 63,200. Private sector payroll jobs increased 60,600 and government increased 2,600. The largest private sector job gains were in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services. Information and mining and logging declined over the year.
Over the year, the unemployment rate declined one and three tenths of a percentage point from 8.2 percent in April 2012. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 22,100, total employment increased 54,700 and the number of unemployed decreased 32,600. The national unemployment rate declined from 8.1 percent in April 2012 to 7.5 percent in April 2013.
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All Colorado estimates from the establishment and household surveys, including greater geographic detail, are available at: http://www.colmigateway.com. Estimates for all states and the nation are available at: http://www.bls.gov.
The May 2013 Colorado Employment Situation will be released on Friday, June 21, 2013. The full schedule of release dates for calendar year 2013 estimates is available at http://www.colmigateway.com.
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Nonfarm payroll jobs estimates are based on a survey of business establishments and government agencies, and are intended to measure the number of jobs, not the number of people employed. Other series based on this survey include private sector average weekly hours, average hourly earnings and average weekly earnings.
The unemployment rate, labor force, labor force participation, total employment and the number of unemployed are based on a survey of households. The total employment estimate derived from this survey is intended to measure the number of people employed.
The business establishment survey covers about seven times the number of households surveyed and is therefore considered a more reliable indicator of economic conditions. Because the estimates are based on two separate surveys, one measuring jobs by worksite and the other measuring employment and unemployment by household, estimates based on these surveys may provide seemingly conflicting results.
