DENVER-
Colorado’s unemployment rate dipped to 3.8 percent in February, its lowest level in nearly six years, as more construction workers, educators and health-care professionals found jobs, state economists said Friday.
The rate was three-tenths of a percentage point below January and down from 4.3 percent in February 2006, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said in its monthly report. The national unemployment rate remained steady last month at 4.5 percent.
However, the state’s economists also issued a note of caution, indicating that job growth may slow in the months ahead because of the decelerating national economy and the weakening housing market.
About 2,300 jobs were created in February, putting the state’s non-farm work force at nearly 2.31 million, according to the department’s seasonally adjusted statistics.
The growth occurred in all but three of the 11 industry sectors, led by education and health services, construction and government, the report said. Sectors that lost jobs include professional and business services, trade, transportation and utilities and other services.
While manufacturing and construction showed gains, the economists noted that their combined job totals remain about 1,600 below those recorded in February 2006. The information sector, where many of the high-tech jobs are located, was down about 600 from February 2006.
Energy development continued to boost the Western Slope, where Rio Blanco County recorded a 2.1 percent unemployment rate.
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