Employers in Colorado added 6,500 nonfarm payroll jobs from May to June for a total of 2,647,000 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 6,100 and government increased 400.

According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate was unchanged from May to June at 2.3 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force increased 10,300 over the month to 2,969,100 and the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased 10,500 to 2,901,900, causing the number of unemployed to decrease 200. Due to rounding, the unemployment rate was unchanged from May at 2.3 percent. The national unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point in June to 4.4 percent.

Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased from 33.7 to 34.2 hours and average hourly earnings decreased from $26.80 to $26.75.

The largest private sector job gains over the month were in professional and business services, education and health services, and leisure and hospitality. The largest declines over the month were in construction and information.

Nonfarm payroll jobs increased 54,900 for the year, with an increase of 51,600 in the private sector and an increase of 3,300 in government. The largest private sector job gains were in trade, transportation, and utilities, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality. Mining and logging declined over the year.

The unemployment rate is down one and one-tenth of a percentage point for the year, from 3.4 percent. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 83,100, total employment increased 113,300 and the number of unemployed decreased 30,300. The national unemployment rate declined from 4.9 percent in June 2016 to 4.4 percent in June 2017.

Unemployment Rate by County – June 2017