Phil Castle, The Business Times

The monthly unemployment rate edged up in Mesa County in December, ending a year in which there was only small changes in the labor market.

“2023 has not shown us much deviation and has remained pretty stable as far as the numbers are concerned,” said Lindsay Bullock, manager of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.

Bullock said she expects jobless rates to remain low in 2024 even as the prospect for job growth improves.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate rose three-tenths of a point between November and December to 3.5 percent, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Monthly jobless rates varied only 1.1 points in 2023 — from a high of 3.8 percent in February and July to a low of 2.7 percent in April. In December 2022, the rate stood at 2.9 percent.

Between November and December, Mesa County payrolls decreased 1,539. The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work increased 151. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, shrank 1,388.

Over the past year, payrolls edged up 61. The ranks of the unemployed rose 477. The labor force increased 538.

Bullock said the increase in the jobless rate between November and December was the first in Mesa County since 2020. She attributed the gain in part to slowing in trade-based industries. Daily job listings for entry level customer and food service positions declined.

The overall number of job orders posted at the Mesa County Workforce Center, one measure of local labor demand, has increased on a year-over-year basis, Bullock said

The 819 job orders posted in December constituted a 39 percent increase over the same month a year ago. For all of 2023, 10,717 orders were posted. That was up nearly 14.7 percent from 2022.

Bullock said unemployment rates were lower in 2023 than 2022, but the labor force declined. She said she expects jobless rates to remain low in 2024 as the outlook improves for job growth. “I believe we have some exciting things happening moving into 2024 between new businesses coming to our area and existing businesses looking ahead for growth.”

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates varied in neighboring Western Colorado counties in December, falling two-tenths of a point to 2.7 percent in Garfield County and a tenth of a point to 2.9 percent in Rio Blanco County. The jobless rate rose two-tenths of a point to 3.9 percent in Delta County and remained unchanged at 3.3 percent in Montrose County.

The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a point to 3.4 percent. The number of people employed declined by 2,100 while the ranks of the unemployed increased 1,700. Nonfarm payrolls increased 300 between November and December as a gain of 2,000 government jobs more than offset a decline of 1,700 private sector jobs.

Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls increased 24,100 — an increase of eight-tenths of a percent — with government jobs accounting for 23,000 of that gain. Employment increased 11,900 in leisure and hospitality, 9,800 in  educational and health services and 4,900 in professional and business services. Employment decreased 8,500 in financial activities, 4,400 in construction and 2,400 in manufacturing. The trade, transportation and utilities sector lost 10,400 jobs.

The average workweek for employees on private, nonfarm payrolls lengthened four-tenths of an hour over the past year to 33.5 hours. Average hourly earnings rose $1.81 to $36.97.