Employers in Colorado added 4,000 nonfarm payroll jobs from August to September for a total of 2,656,200 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 8,100 and government decreased 4,100.

According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point from August to September to 2.5 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force increased 18,700 over the month to 3,010,600 and the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased 14,800 to 2,934,100, causing the number of unemployed to increase 4,000. The national unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point in September to 4.2 percent.

Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased from 33.7 to 33.5 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $26.76 to $27.68.

The largest over the month private sector job gains were in professional and business services, and education and health services. The largest over the month declines were in trade, transportation, and utilities, other services, and financial activities.

Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 41,300, with an increase of 41,600 in the private sector and a decrease of 300 in government. The largest private sector job gains were in professional and business services, education and health services, and trade, transportation, and utilities.  Construction and manufacturing declined over the year.

Over the year, the unemployment rate is down seven-tenths of a percentage point from 3.2 percent. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 108,800, total employment increased 125,700 and the number of unemployed decreased 16,900. The national unemployment rate declined from 4.9 percent in September 2016 to 4.2 percent in September 2017.