State's jobless rate dips to 8 percent

Colorado’s unemployment rate edged down one-tenth of a percentage point in November, even as government and the private sector shed jobs, the state Department of Labor and Employment reported Tuesday.

The state’s jobless rate slipped to 8.0 percent last month, the report said, with the number of people actively participating in the labor force increasing by 17,600 to 2,715,200. Government, meanwhile, declined by 1,600 payroll jobs and the private sector declined by 2,900.

The unemployment rate and labor force participation numbers are based on a survey of households; job estimates are based on a survey of businesses and government agencies.

The jobless rate is down from 8.9 percent in November 2010.

The largest private sector job gains in November were in professional and business services, the report found. The largest declines were in trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, and financial activities. Nonfarm payroll jobs have increased 25,500 in the past year — with 27,300 gained in the private sector and a decrease of 1,800 in government.

Colorado was among 43 states where the unemployment rate fell in November, the most number of states to report such declines in eight years.

The falling state rates reflect the brightening jobs picture nationally. The U.S. unemployment rate fell sharply in November to 8.6 percent, the lowest since March 2009. The economy has generated 100,000 or more jobs five months in a row — the first time that's happened since 2006, before the Great Recession.

Nevada for the 18th straight month had the highest state unemployment rate: 13 percent. It was followed by California at 11.3 percent. North Dakota again enjoyed the lowest unemployment rate: 3.4 percent. It was followed by Nebraska at 4.1 percent and South Dakota at 4.3 percent.