DENVER — Colorado’s employment picture fared better than the nation in October as most industries added jobs to drop the unemployment rate two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.7 percent, state labor economists said today.
The jobless rate compared with 3.9 percent in September and 4.2 percent in October 2006. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent.
The nonagricultural work force totaled 2.33 million in October which put the overall work force at a record 2.6 million, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said.
“Despite signs of a weakening national economy, Colorado’s job market continues to exhibit modest but steady gains,” Donald Mares, the department’s executive director, said in a statement.
Six of the 11 industry sectors reported job gains last month, led by leisure and hospitality, and trade, transportation and utilities, according to the department’s seasonally adjusted figures.
Manufacturing, information and government each reported job losses of 900 or less, while natural resources and mining and construction remained unchanged, the department said.
