Colorado companies added 10,100 jobs in April

Denver Business Journal

Colorado businesses added 10,100 nonfarm wage and salary jobs in April, a slightly greater increase than usual for the month, the state Department of Labor and Employment said Friday.

Nonagricultural employment has grown 43,600, or 1.9 percent, over the past 12 months, rising to 2,357,300.

"Job growth is expanding at a pace similar to last year, but rising energy and food prices, combined with continued sluggishness in construction, are likely to dampen growth for the remainder of the year," Donald Mares, executive director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, said in a statement.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.4 percent in April. Although the jobless rate has remained steady for the past three months, it is eight-tenths of a percentage point higher than a year ago, and matches the highest rate since mid-2006. The national unemployment rate was 5 percent in April.

Colorado officials said that eight major industries added workers in April, while three cut jobs.

Professional and business services led the expanding industries, adding 7,200 positions, with stronger-than-usual hiring in administrative and business support services. Construction payrolls increased by 3,700.

Education and health services added 1,100 positions, all of them within the health care and social assistance subsector. Tax preparation activity probably helped financial activities add 700 positions.

Meanwhile, leisure and hospitality shed 3,000 jobs as the winter recreation season ended. Other services dipped 600, while manufacturing trimmed 300 jobs in April.