Phil Castle, The Business Times

The unemployment rate slipped in Mesa County in August even as a measure of labor demand jumped.

While there could be some ups and downs in the jobless rates in the months ahead, no big changes are expected.

“I think it’ll stay pretty stable,” said Lindsay Bullock, manager of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction.

The seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate edged down a tenth of a point to 3.7 percent in August, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The latest rate remains a full point higher than April and seven-tenths of a point higher than August 2022.

Between July and August 2023, Mesa County payrolls increased 928 to 75,518. The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work decreased 89. The labor force, which includes the employed and unemployed, grew 839 to 78,400.

Over the past year, payrolls increased 843 or about 1.1 percent. The ranks of the unemployed also increased, however, 565. The labor force grew 1,408.

Bullock said the latest numbers are typical for August and a time of year when the jobless rate usually edges downward.

What was noteworthy, she said, was a jump in the number of job orders posted at the Mesa County Work Force Center. For August, 1,133 orders were posted. That’s up from 742 orders posted in July and the biggest increase so far this year. For August 2022, 850 orders were posted.

Bullock said demand remains strongest for job openings in the health care, leisure and hospitality and construction sectors.

Through the first eight months of 2023, 6,428 job orders were posted. That’s down 3.6 percent from the 6,669 orders posted during the same span in 2022.

Looking ahead, Bullock said she expects labor numbers to remain stable. If changes occur, they’ll likely be small ones. “I don’t see any big jumps happening.”

Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates also edged down in two neighboring Western Colorado counties in August — a tenth of a point to 3.7 percent in Delta County and three-tenths of a point to 3.2 percent in Rio Blanco County. The jobless rates remained unchanged at 2.9 percent in Garfield County and 3.5 percent in Montrose County.

The statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a point to 3.1 percent. The increase pushed the rate above 3 percent for the first time in 16 months.

The number of people counted among those unsuccessfully looking for work increased 4,700 between July and August to 99,800. The labor force grew 2,500 to more than 3.2 million.

The labor force participation rate — the share of the population either working or actively looking for work — remained unchanged for a fourth straight month at 68.7 percent.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 5,600 between July and August as an increase of 9,100 private sector jobs more than offset a decrease of 3,500 government jobs.

Over the past year, nonfarm payrolls increased 42,700. Employment increased 24,000 in leisure and hospitality, 7,200 in professional and business services and 6,400 in health services. Employment decreased 7,300 in financial activities, 2,500 in construction and 1,500 in the information sector. Payrolls declined 5,500 in the trade, transportation and utilities sector.

The average workweek for Colorado employees on private, nonfarm payrolls held steady at 33.3 hours. Average hourly earnings rose $1.79 to $35.90.