Colorado’s unemployment rate for June was 8.2 percent, an increase of one-tenth of one percent over Colorado’s unemployment rate of 8.1 for May.
In addition, nonfarm payroll jobs decreased 6,900 from May to June for a total of 2,284,400 jobs.
Private sector payroll jobs declined 5,200 and government decreased 1,700 .
State officials said the increase in the unemployment rate was caused by an increase in the number of people actively participating in the labor force without a corresponding increase in the number of people reporting their status as employed.
Colorado’s unemployment rate in March was 7.8; April, 7.9; May, 8.1; June 8.2.
The largest over the month private sector job gains were in information.
The largest declines were in manufacturing, construction, and education and health services.
Over the year, nonfarm payroll jobs have increased 33,600. Private sector payroll jobs increased 35,700 and government declined 2,100 .
The largest private sector job gains were in professional and businesses services, construction, and education and health services.
The only significant declines in private sector payroll jobs were in information.
Over the year, the unemployment rate is down two-tenths of one percentage point from 8.4 percent in June 2011.
The number of Coloradans participating in the labor force increased 23,900, total employment increased 26,100 and the number of unemployed decreased 2,200.
The national unemployment rate declined 9.1 percent in June 2011 to 8.2 percent in June 2012.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939, hpankratz@denverpost.com or twitter.com/howardpankratz