Phil Castle, Business Times

The monthly unemployment rate has edged up in Mesa County, but remains below the level of a year ago.

The jobless rate is expected to retreat with seasonal hiring in the spring, and the labor force continues to grow.

“Overall, I think we’re looking not too bad,” said Celina Kirnberger, employer services supervisor at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate rose a tenth of a point to 3.8 percent in February, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. At this time last year, the rate stood a 4.6 percent.

Kirnberger said it isn’t unusual for jobless rates to rise in February as winter weather affects hiring in jobs involving outdoor work. She said she’s encouraged, though, the rate remains lower than last year even as the labor force has grown. “That’s a very good sign.”

Between January and February, Mesa County payrolls increased 183 to 74,718. But the number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work also increased  — 146 to 2,980. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, grew 329 to 77,698.

Over the past year, payrolls increased 1,461 — nearly 2 percent. The ranks of the unemployed decreased 542. The labor force grew 919.

Job orders posted at the Mesa County Workforce Center — a measure of labor demand — continue to decline on a year-over-year basis, Kirnberger said.

For February, 630 job orders were posted. That’s down from 740 for the same month last year. For the first two months of 2023, 1,305 orders were posed. That’s down from 1,757 for the same span in 2022. The number of job openings associated with job orders also declined — 1,582 in February 2023 compared to 1,963 in February 2022.

While labor shortages persist for some industry sectors, Kirnberger said she’s seeing more balance between job openings and job seekers. “It feels like it’s much more even now.”

More will be known when the March labor estimates are published. They’re scheduled for release April 21.

Kirnberger said she expects the monthly unemployment rate to edge back down moving into the spring and summer. There’s some uncertainty among employers, however, about the potential for recession and decreased sales.

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates also edged up in neighboring Western Colorado counties in February — a tenth of a point to 3.6 percent in Rio Blanco County and 3.7 percent in Montrose County, two-tenths of a point to 3.2 percent in Garfield County and three-tenths of a point to 4.5 percent in Delta County.

The statewide seasonally adjusted jobless rate rose a tenth of a point to 2.9 percent, but remained below 3 percent for a 10th consecutive month.

Nonfarm payrolls grew 6,200 between January and February with a gain of 4,400 in the private sector and 1,800 in government. What initially was estimated as increase of 800 jobs in January was revised downward to a loss of 700.

The labor force participation rate rose two-tenths of a point to 68.3 percent.

Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls increased 46,700 with the biggest gains in the leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and educational and health services sectors.

Over the last year, the average workweek for Colorado employees on private, nonfarm payrolls shortened two-tenths of an hour to 32.7 hours. Average hourly earnings increased $1.91 to $35.68.