| Employers in Colorado added 7,200 non-farm payroll jobs from March to April for a total of 2,717,000 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 6,300 and government increased to 900.
According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point from March to April to 2.9 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force increased 6,800 over the month to 3,056,100 and the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased 9,300 to 2,968,100, causing the number of unemployed to decline 2,500. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point in April to 3.9 percent.
Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private non-farm payrolls was unchanged at 33.7 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $27.73 to $28.91.
The largest over the month private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and financial activities. The largest over the month decline was in education and health services.
Over the year, non-farm payroll jobs increased 69,700, with an increase of 64,000 in the private sector and an increase of 5,700 in government. The largest private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and construction. There were no significant private sector over the year declines.
Over the year, the unemployment rate is up three-tenths of a percentage point from 2.6 percent. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 93,000, total employment increased 82,100 and the number of unemployed increased 10,900. The national unemployment rate declined from 4.4 percent in April 2017 to 3.9 percent in April 2018.
# # #
All Colorado estimates from the establishment and household surveys, including greater geographic detail, are available on the Colorado LMI Gateway website. Estimates for all states and the nation are available at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The May 2018 Colorado Employment Situation will be released at 8:00 AM on Friday, June 15, 2018. The full schedule of release dates for calendar year 2018 estimates is also available at the Colorado LMI Gateway.
# # #
Non-farm 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 persons employed and unemployed by household, estimates based on these surveys may provide seemingly conflicting results.
Links to Additional Documents:
Colorado Labor Force Summary (Excel spreadsheet)
Counties Unemployment Rates (Excel spreadsheet)
Press Release as a pdf document
Graphic: U.S. and Colorado Unemployment Rates (jpg document) |
