December unemployment rates in most Northwest Workforce Area counties drop |
|
Household survey data:
According to the survey of households, Colorado’s seasonally adjusted
unemployment rate fell three-tenths of a percentage point in December to 4.8 percent. The national unemployment rate declined by three-tenths of a percentage point to 3.9 percent.
Other highlights from the household survey:
- Colorado’s labor force increased by 8,500 in December to 3,208,400. The share of Coloradans participating in the labor force improved to 68.3 percent last month. The state continues to experience a faster rate of recovery in the participation rate than the U.S.
- The number of individuals employed in Colorado grew by 18,000 in December to 3,054,100, which represents 65.0 percent of the state’s 16+ population. Colorado’s employment-to-population ratio has trended upward over the past four months.
- The Colorado counties with the highest unemployment rates in December were: Pueblo (6.4%), Huerfano (6.3%), Las Animas (5.5%), Fremont (5.5%), and Rio Grande (5.2%). County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted and are directly comparable to Colorado’s December unadjusted rate of 4.1 percent.
|
|
Business highlights:
Employers in Colorado added 9,000 nonfarm payroll jobs from November to December for a total of 2,778,700 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 7,900 and government added 1,100 jobs. Over the past 20 months, Colorado has gained back 335,500 of the 375,800 nonfarm payroll jobs lost between February and April of 2020. That translates to a job recovery rate of 89.3 percent, which exceeds the U.S. rate of 84.0 percent.
Other highlights from the establishment survey:
- November estimates were revised up to 2,769,700, and the over the month change from October to November was a gain of 14,100 rather than the originally estimated increase of 9,800 (monthly revisions are based on additional responses from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates).
- Private industry sectors with significant job gains in December were: professional and business services (~1,900), financial activities (~1,200), manufacturing (~1,000), and other services (~1,000). There were no industries with significant over the month declines.
- Since December 2020, nonfarm payroll jobs have increased 152,000, with the private sector growing by 139,900 jobs and government adding an additional 12,100 jobs. The largest private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality (~85,600), professional and business services (~22,000), and trade, transportation, and utilities (~13,000). During that same period, construction (~600) payroll jobs declined. Colorado’s rate of job growth over the past year is 5.8 percent, compared to the U.S. rate of 4.5 percent.
-
Over the year, the average workweek for all Colorado employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased from 33.5 to 33.2 hours, while average hourly earnings increased from $31.20 to $33.28, nearly two dollars more than the national average hourly earnings of $31.31.
|
|
Employer Reminders:
-
Colorado's minimum hourly wage: increased to $12.56 on Jan. 1, The minimum wage for tipped employees increased to $9.45 an hour.
-
Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI): Colorado voters approved Proposition 118 in Nov. 2020, paving the way for FAMLI. FAMLI premium payments will begin in January, 2023, and benefits will begin January, 2024. For more information on the FAMLI program, visit their new website,
|
|
Noon- 1:30 p.m. | Feb. 3
Free | Meeker Community Library
|
|
7:30 - 11:30 a.m. | Feb. 15
Morgridge Commons, GWS
|
|
6 - 7:30 p.m. | March 29
CMC - Edwards Campus
|
|
We're here to help!
Your business services staff, Chris, Mark and Carolyn, are highly trained, resourceful, out-of-the-box thinkers dedicated to businesses, community and economic development. We believe that thriving local economies are the best foundations for businesses to succeed, and that strong businesses contribute to thriving economies and meaningful employment. Our number one goal is to support businesses in attracting and retaining the talent they need to grow and thrive.
Our staff are experts in local labor markets and look forward to helping you with your workforce needs. Contact us to learn more about tailored services and resources to support your business.
|
|
Northwest Workforce Region Business Services Coordinators |
|
Carolyn Tucker
Garfield, Pitkin and
West Eagle counties
|
|
Mark Hoblitzell
East Eagle, Summit
and Lake counties
970.880.4092
|
|
Christina Oxley
Rio Blanco, Moffat, Routt,
Grand and Jackson counties
970.620.1690
|
|
Workforce Center offices open |
|
If you have a question about unemployment, please contact them directly at 1-800-388-5515. Workforce centers are no longer able to assist with unemployment insurance questions or claims.
Northwest Colorado Workforce Offices are open to walk-in traffic from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Services are limited to one hour and capacity may be limited based on office size. Offices are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays by appointment only.
|
|
CRAIG
Moffat County
970.824.3246
|
|
EDWARDS
East Eagle County
970.926.4440
|
|
LEADVILLE
Lake County
719.486.2428
|
|
MEEKER
Rio Blanco County
970.878.4211
|
|
|
FRISCO
Grand, Jackson
and Summit counties
970.668.5361
|
|
GLENWOOD SPRINGS
Garfield, Pitkin and
West Eagle counties
970.945.8638
|
|
STEAMBOAT
SPRINGS
Routt County
970.879.3075
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
