Colorado’s unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.9 percent in December, the Colorado Department of Labor said today.
The state said that over the year, the unemployment rate is down one percentage point from 8.9 in December 2010. Nationally, unemployment was 8.5 percent in December.
The number of people actively participating in the labor force increased 12,100 to 2,727,300 and total employment increased 12,300 to 2,511,300 causing the number of unemployed to decline 300 , the monthly household survey found.
But Tuesday’s report on unemployment and job creation was mixed. Nonfarm payroll jobs — tracked in a separate survey of employers — actually declined by 4,400 during the month.
Nonfarm payroll jobs in Colorado in December fell from November to 2.24 million jobs. Government increased by 200 payroll jobs and the private sector declined by 4,600 .
The state said the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased from 34.3 to 34.6 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $24.09 to $24.15 .
The largest over the month private sector job declines were in professional and business services, other services and financial activities.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today said the West continued to record the highest regional unemployment rate in December, 9.7 percent, while the Midwest and Northeast reported the lowest rates, 7.9 percent each.
Nevada continued to record the highest unemployment rate among the states, 12.6 percent in December. California posted the next highest rate, 11.1 percent.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
