Colorado’s unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point in December to 3.5 percent, reports The Prowers Journal. During the same period, the national unemployment rate remained unchanged from at 5.0 percent. Two southeast Colorado counties—Baca and Kiowa—had the lowest posted unemployment percentages in the state. Otero County had an exceptionally high rate, at 6.7 percent.
Employers in Colorado added almost 11,000 nonfarm payroll jobs from November to December. The average workweek for all employees in the state decreased to 33.4 hours. The largest private sector job gains were in construction, manufacturing and leisure and hospitality. The only decline was in mining and logging.
For the year, the unemployment rate is down seven-tenths of a percentage point from 4.2. The rate is at its lowest level since 2007.
Here is the unemployment data for Southeast Colorado: