La Plata County’s unemployment rate in April continued to decrease along with Colorado’s, according to data released from the state Friday.
The county’s not-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased six-tenths of a percentage point from 6.1 percent in March to 5.5 percent in April.
The county’s rate also decreased 1.2 percentage points from April of last year when the rate was 6.7 percent.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased two-tenths of a percentage point from 7.1 percent in March to 6.9 percent in April.
The national unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 7.5 percent during the same period.
The last time the state’s unemployment level hit 6.9 percent or lower was in January 2009.
People continue to get jobs at a faster rate than people enter the workforce pool, which is the reason for the state’s decrease in unemployment, said state economist Alexandra Hall during a media conference call Friday.
The unemployment rate is down across the state except for a handful of counties, she said. Only two of 64 counties saw an unemployment rate higher than April of last year.
“Having only two counties not better is ... a sign of the strength of the improving economy,” Hall said.
Only two counties saw a double-digit unemployment rate in April, a sharp decrease from last year when 10 to 12 counties had double-digit unemployment, she said.
Professional and business services, other services, and leisure and hospitality saw the largest job gains in April. Trade, transportation and utilities saw the largest declines in jobs.
jdahl@durangoherald.com
County unemployment April 2013 (PDF)
