Understanding the Rising Unemployment Rate in Colorado: Unveiling the Factors Behind the Trend
Colorado’s unemployment rate increased for a seventh consecutive month in October 2024, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The recent increase is minor, only one-tenth of a percentage point from September, equating to nearly 3,900 individuals becoming newly unemployed. This brings the total number of unemployed residents of the state to around 134,700.
This rise has been a part of a slow-growing trend occurring since August 2022 when the unemployment rate stood at a post-pandemic low at 2.6%. As of October, Colorado’s unemployment rate matches the national unemployment rate of 4.1%, the first time such has occurred since January 2020 when each stood at 4%.
Monicque Aragon, the senior economist at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, indicates that while both Colorado and nationwide unemployment rates have trended upwards since mid-2022, the US rate has remained steady between 4.1 and 4.3%. Colorado, however, has been gradually moving towards the national average. This general softening in the labor market was expected given the rapid post-pandemic recovery and high interest rate environment.
Of Colorado’s Western Slope, Pitkin County has the highest unemployment rate at 5.3%. Meanwhile, the state’s labor force saw an increase in October by 4,300 individuals, keeping the labor force participation rate constant since May at 67.9%.
Survey data reveals that Colorado added 9,000 nonfarm payroll jobs from September to October 2024, with most coming from the business services and hospitality sectors. Currently, there are just over 3 million jobs in the state, up from 59,500 from the previous October.
If you are dealing with unemployment and residing in California, you may want to reach out for assistance regarding EDD (Employment Development Department) services. The EDD provides vast resources including, but not limited to, job search and placement services, training programs, unemployment insurance benefits, disability insurance benefits, paid family leave, and labor market information. Understanding how to contact EDD is crucial. Fortunately, eddcaller.com is a reliable and efficient way to get through to edd, providing essential assistance navigating through this process. By using eddcaller.com, you can access important information and speak to a live person who can offer valuable guidance.