Unemployment rates fell in three-quarters of large U.S. cities in October, a sign that the job market is picking up broadly across the country.
The Labor Department said Tuesday that unemployment rates fell in 281 metro areas. They rose in 57 and were unchanged in 34. That’s better than September’s showing and is the largest number of cities to report a drop since April.
In metro Denver, October’s unemployment rate of 7.9 percent fell to 7.8 percent in November. In Fort Collins, it rose from 6 percent to 6.1 percent.
Unemployment rates were level in Colorado Springs, Boulder, Pueblo, Greeley and Grand Junction.
Nationwide, the unemployment rate was unchanged in October at 9 percent. Last week, the government said the nationwide rate fell to 8.6 percent in November, the lowest level in 2 1/2 years. Employers added about 120,000 net jobs.
