Employers in Colorado added 4,400 nonfarm payroll jobs from July to August for a total of 2,655,300 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 2,700 and government increased 1,700.

According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate was unchanged from July to August at 2.4 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force increased 9,800 over the month to 2,992,400 and the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased 8,000 to 2,919,800, causing the number of unemployed to increase 1,800. The unemployment rate was unchanged from July at 2.4 percent due to rounding. The national unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point in August to 4.4 percent.

Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased from 33.8 to 33.9 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $26.60 to $27.41.

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

Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 45,800, with an increase of 43,500 in the private sector and an increase of 2,300 in government. The largest private sector job gains were in trade, transportation, and utilities, professional and business services, and education and health services.

Over the year, the unemployment rate is down nine-tenths of a percentage point from 3.3 percent. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 95,200, total employment increased 118,200 and the number of unemployed decreased 22,900. The national unemployment rate declined from 4.9 percent in August 2016 to 4.4 percent in August 2017.