While still higher than national and state averages, Mesa County saw a very slight dip in unemployment last month. Much the same is true with many counties across western Colorado which are at or near standstill.

The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) reports unemployment in the state remains at 3.0 percent for the third consecutive month. The national unemployment rate also stalled at 4.1 percent.

In Mesa County, unemployment rose from 4.1 percent in December to 4.8 percent in January, then dropped to 4.6 percent in February. That's one-half percentage point higher than the US rate and 1.6 percent higher than the Colorado average.

While month to month statistics are static, there has been an increase of 59,000 private sector and 4,400 government jobs over the last 12 months in Colorado.

Here is a breakdown of select counties in western Colorado. A report of all counties can be found on the CDLE website.

Statistics listed for each county are non-seasonally adjusted. (Indicates percentage increase or decrease in unemployment from the previous month).

  • Delta - January 4.8% / February 4.8% (No Change)
  • Garfield - January 3.6%  /  February 3.5% (-0.1%)
  • Gunnison - January 2.4% /  February 2.3% (-0.1%)
  • Mesa - January 4.8% / February 4.6% (-0.2%)
  • Moffat - January 4.3% / February 4.4% (+0.1%)
  • Montrose - January 4.2% / February 4.2% (No Change)
  • Pitkin - January 2.7% / February 2.5% (-0.2%)
  • Rio Blanco - January 4.5% / February 4.5% (No Change)
  • Routt - January 2.4% /  February 2.4% (No Change)
  • San Miguel - January 2.0% / February 2.1% (+0.1%)

CDLE is expected to release March employment statistics on April 20.

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