For Immediate Release
Date: May,17, 2019 8:00 A.M.
Contact: Office of Government and Public Relations
Phone: Bill Thoennes at (303) 318-8004 or Cher Haavind at (303) 318-8003
Fax: (303) 318-8070
Web: https://www.colmigateway.com
Employers in Colorado added 9,500 nonfarm payroll jobs from March to April for a total of 2,765,200 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased 8,300 and government increased 1,200. March estimates were revised up to 2,755,700, and the over the month change from February to March was an increase of 6,500 rather than the originally estimated increase of 6,100.
According to the survey of households, the unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point from March to April to 3.4 percent. The number of people actively participating in the labor force decreased 800 over the month to 3,138,800 and the number of people reporting themselves as employed increased 4,600 to 3,033,700. The increase in total employment combined with the decrease in labor force caused the number of unemployed to decrease 5,400 and the unemployment rate to decline to 3.4 percent. The national unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point in April to 3.6 percent.
Over the year, the average workweek for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased from 33.9 to 32.6 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $28.79 to $30.34.
The largest over the month private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and financial activities. The largest over the month decline was in trade, transportation, and utilities.
Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs increased 49,100, with an increase of 45,900 in the private sector and an increase of 3,200 in government. The largest private sector job gains were in professional and business services, educational and health services, and leisure and hospitality. Financial activities declined over the year.
Over the year, the unemployment rate is up four-tenths of a percentage point from 3.0 percent. The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 65,500, total employment increased 52,000 and the number of unemployed increased 13,400. The national unemployment rate declined from 3.9 percent in April 2018 to 3.6 percent in April 2019.
All Colorado estimates from the establishment and household surveys, including greater geographic detail, are available at: https://www.colmigateway.com. Estimates for all states and the nation are available at: https://www.bls.gov.
The May 2019 Colorado Employment Situation will be released at 8:00 AM on Friday, June 21, 2019. The full schedule of release dates for calendar year 2019 estimates is available at https://www.colmigateway.com.
Nonfarm payroll jobs estimates are based on a survey of business establishments and government agencies, and are intended to measure the number of jobs, not the number of people employed. Other series based on this survey include private sector average weekly hours, average hourly earnings and average weekly earnings.
The unemployment rate, labor force, labor force participation, total employment and the number of unemployed are based on a survey of households. The total employment estimate derived from this survey is intended to measure the number of people employed.
The business establishment survey covers about seven times the number of households surveyed and is therefore considered a more reliable indicator of economic conditions. Because the estimates are based on two separate surveys, one measuring jobs by worksite and the other measuring persons employed and unemployed by household, estimates based on these surveys may provide seemingly conflicting results.