Phil Castle, The Business Times

The unemployment rate rose again in Mesa County in July, climbing to its highest level in five months.

The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate increased two-tenths of a point to 4.6 percent, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. With gains in each of the last three months, the jobless rate has jumped to its highest point since February, when the rate stood at 4.7 percent. At this time last year, the rate was a point lower at 3.6 percent.

Between June and July 2024, Mesa County payrolls increased 189 to 73,227. But the number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work also increased — 157 to 3,513. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, grew 346 to 76,740.

Over the past year, payrolls decreased 389 and the ranks of the unemployed increased 743. The labor force grew 354.

The unemployment rate typically increases in June in Mesa County in part because high school and college graduates enter the work force, but don’t immediately find jobs. The jobless rate usually retreats through summer and fall.

August labor estimates are scheduled for publication Sept. 20.

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates increased a tenth of a point between June and July in three neighboring western Colorado counties — to 4.3 percent in Delta County, 4.1 percent in Montrose County and 4.5 percent in Rio Blanco County. The jobless rate held steady at 3.4 percent in Garfield County.

The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up a tenth of a point between June and July to 3.9 percent, although nonfarm payrolls increased 4,800. Changes in the unemployment rate and nonfarm payrolls are based on the results of separate surveys of households and businesses, respectively.

According to the results of the latest household surveys, the number of employed people in Colorado grew 3,600 to more than 3.1 million — 65.3 percent of the population over the age 16 in the state. The number of unemployed people grew 1,800 to 126,300.

The labor force increased 5,500 to top  3.2 million. The labor force participation rate — the proportion of people working or looking for work — remained unchanged at 67.9 percent. That’s higher than the national rate of 62.7 percent.

According to the latest results of business surveys, nonfarm payrolls increased 4,800 between June and July to nearly 3 million. Private sector payrolls grew 2,500, while government payrolls grew 2,300. Employment in the trade, transportation and utilities sector increased 4,100, more than offsetting a decline of 1,000 manufacturing jobs.

Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls increased 43,200 in Colorado. Employment increased 11,600 in educational and health services, 7,400 in professional and business services and 6,100 in leisure and hospitality. Employment decreased 4,200 in construction and 2,800 in the information sector.

The average workweek for Colorado employees on private, nonfarm payrolls lengthened a tenth of an hour over the past year to 33.5 hours. Average hourly earnings increased $1.50 to $37.76.