Colorado businesses have added a significant number of new jobs in the last few months. That's good because there has also been a significant increase in people looking for employment. Even with Colorado's robust job growth, the job supply can't keep up with the number of people looking for a job.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reports employers in the state added 5,100 nonfarm payroll jobs from August to September for a total of over 2.74 million total jobs.

During the same period, the number of people searching for employment increased 5,300. With the increase in demand for jobs outpacing jobs available, the unemployment rate in Colorado increased two-tenths of a percent to 3.1 percent.

While Colorado's September unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a percent, national unemployment decreased two-tenths of a percent in September to 3.7 percent, the lowest since 1969. Even with the increase, Colorado's unemployment rate remains below the national average

Below is a list of some western Colorado counties and the change in non-seasonally adjusted unemployment from August to September. The numbers compare the August unemployment rate to the September unemployment rate. The percentage increase (up) or decrease (down) in unemployment from August to September is also listed.

  • Delta 3.8% - 3.2% (down 0.6%)
  • Eagle 2.5% - 2.3% (down 0.2%)
  • Garfield 3.1% - 2.8% (down 0.3%)
  • Gunnison 2.4% - 2.2% (down 0.2%)
  • La Plata 3.1% - 2.6% (down 0.5%)
  • Mesa 4.0% - 3.6% (down 0.4%)
  • Moffat 3.3% - 2.9% (down 0.4%)
  • Montrose 3.5% - 3.1% (down 0.4%)
  • Ouray 3.1% - 2.7% (down 0.4%)
  • Pitkin 3.1% - 3.0% (down 0.1%)
  • Rio Blanco 4.7% - 3.9% (down 0.8%)
  • Routt 2.7% - 2.5% (down 0.2%)

Of the major metropolitan areas, Boulder, Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Ft. Collins, and Greeley were below the statewide average. Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, and Pueblo were above the statewide average.

The five counties with the highest unemployment rate in Colorado include Huerfano (5.3%), Fremont (4.9%), Pueblo (4.7%), Saguache (4.5%), and Otero (4.4%)

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