Phil Castle, The Business Times

The monthly unemployment rate remained unchanged in Mesa County for a third straight month, an indicator of stability in the labor market that’s been a hallmark of the past year.

“It kind of seems like we’ve settled in,” said Lindsay Bullock, manager of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.

She expects the trend to continue into the new year, although she also expects new businesses and business expansions to bolster payrolls.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3.2 percent in November, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. That’s the same rate as October and September. For November 2022, the rate stood at 3 percent.

Over the past 11 months, the monthly rate has ranged from a high of 3.8 percent in February and June to a low of 2.7 percent in April. “That shows how steady we were through the year,” Bullock said.

Between October and November, Mesa County payrolls increased 724 to 76,197. The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work edged up 61 to 2,550. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, grew 785 to 78,747.

Over the past year, payrolls increased 1,195 or nearly 1.6 percent. The ranks of the unemployed rose 227. The labor force grew 1,422.

The number of job orders posted at the Mesa County Workforce Center — a measure of labor demand — fell from October to November. But the 896 orders posted in November were up 44 percent from the same month a year ago.

Through the first 11 months of 2023, 9,898 orders were posted. That’s a gain of 13 percent over the same span in 2022.

Bullock said demand remains strongest for jobs in health care and behavioral health as well as retail.

Looking ahead, Bullock said she expects the Mesa County labor market to remain steady in 2024.

Monthly jobless rates historically spike in January and February because of layoffs following the holidays and winter weather that affects construction and other outdoor work. Otherwise, Bullock said she anticipates no big swings. “I don’t see anything that’s worrying me for 2024.”

At the same time, Bullock said she’s encouraged by the number of businesses opening and expanding in Mesa County and a more diversified economy. “There’s a lot of really great things happening for businesses.”

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates edged up in neighboring Western Colorado counties between October and November — up four-tenths of a point to 3.8 percent in Delta County, three-tenths of a point to 3.3 percent in Montrose County and a tenth of a point to 2.9 percent in Garfield County and 3 percent in Rio Blanco County.

The statewide seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent in November with increases in the number of employed, but also those counted among the unemployed.

Nonfarm payrolls decreased 700 between October and November as a loss of 2,100 private sector jobs more than offset a gain of 1,400 government jobs.

Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls increased 31,100 with the biggest gains in the leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and educational and health services sectors. Employment decreased in the financial activities, construction and information sectors as well as the trade, transportation and utilities sector.

The average workweek for employees on private, nonfarm payrolls rose four-tenths of an hour over the past year to 33.5 hours. Average hourly earnings rose $1.58 to $36.93.