Colorado’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.2 percent in October from 3.1 percent in September as more people went on the hunt for a job, according to a monthly update Friday from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
The number of people in the labor force rose by 5,500 last month, but the number who reported being employed increased by 1,800. The difference, 3,700, represented the increase in the unemployed, according to a household survey.
A separate survey from employers found 4,800 more nonfarm jobs in October than in September and 72,000 more over the year. That monthly change included 6,100 additional private sector jobs and 1,300 fewer government jobs.
Employers in professional and business services; leisure, hospitality and trade; transportation, and utilities added the most jobs last month.
The payroll numbers can swing wildly sometimes. September’s report showed an increase of 5,100 jobs initially, but that changed to a loss of 700 jobs after revisions in October.
Over the year, the average workweek decreased from 33.9 to 33.4 hours, but the average hourly earnings increased from $27.95 to $29.22.
