Colorado’s unemployment rate inched up one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.1 percent in January as businesses made seasonal adjustments in their work forces, state economists said today.
The rate compared with 4 percent in December, 4.7 percent in January 2006 and last month’s national rate of 4.6 percent.
“The Colorado labor market began the year on a steady note with unemployment remaining relatively low and job growth expanding at a moderate pace,” Don Mares, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, said in a statement.
The state’s nonagricultural work force was estimated at 2.3 million, up about 1,800 from December and 42,600 from January 2006, based on the department’s seasonally adjusted figures.
Five of the 11 sectors reported losses, led by trade, transportation and utilities, which lost 3,700 jobs, according to the seasonally adjusted figures. Construction lost about 1,600, and manufacturing lost about 1,100.
Job gains were led by leisure and hospitality, with 2,900, and professional and business services, with 2,600.
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Colorado Department of Labor and Employment:
