DENVER-
Colorado’s unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage point to 3.6 percent in March, the lowest level in nearly six years.
The rate compares with 3.8 percent in February of this year and 4.4 percent in March 2006, the state Labor and Employment reported Friday.
Total employment and unemployment both fell from the previous month, officials said. The number of employed Coloradans fell 12,200 to 2.57 million, adjusted for normal labor force movements. The number of unemployed residents fell 3,800 to 97,300.
In March 2006, 2.51 million Coloradans were working and 114,700 were unemployed.
“While job gains during the state’s economic recovery have been only moderate by historical standards, unemployment has still fallen steadily over the past four years,” said Donald Mares, executive director of the labor department.
The previous lower monthly unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in June 2001.
Total nonfarm employment in March 2007 increased 14,300 from February, to 2.3 million, about normal for the month, the department said.
Ten of the state’s 11 major sectors added workers in March, led by leisure and hospitality, which picked up 4,300 workers thanks to excellent ski conditions.
Government added 2,700 jobs, trade, transportation and utilities added 2,100 and construction added 1,900.
The only sector that lost jobs was manufacturing, and that was only 100 positions.
Between to March 2006 and March 2007, Colorado added 42,500 jobs, a gain of 1.9 percent. Most of the expansion came in professional and business services, 10,100 jobs; leisure and hospitality, 9,600; and education and health services, 8,400.
The national unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in March.
