Seasonal layoffs at ski resorts combined with more people looking for work helped boost Colorado’s April unemployment rate slightly to 5.2 percent, economists said today.
The rate was up one-tenth of a percentage point from March but down from 5.5 percent in April 2004, the Colorado Department of Labor and Unemployment reported. The national rate was unchanged at 5.2 percent.
“It’s not unusual for a little bit of an uptick in the rate when the economy gets better,” state labor economist Joe Winter said, noting that more people were looking for work.
The number of nonagricultural workers declined 3,600 to 2.21 million in month-over-month statistics, with five of the 11 industry sectors reporting losses, according to the department’s seasonally adjusted figures.
The biggest decline – 3,700 – came in professional and business services, primarily in employment services, Winter said. Losses also were reported in construction, manufacturing, trade transportation and utilities and financial activities.
Jobs were unchanged for natural resources and mining; information, which includes high-tech businesses; and other services. Government, leisure and hospitality and educational and health services reported slight gains.
Compared with April 2004, the number of overall jobs was up 39,200, and nine of the 11 industry sectors showed job gains.
