Colorado's Unemployment Rate Climbed To 9.3 Percent In February

Colorado's unemployment rate continued to climb in February to 9.3 percent, according to new data from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

The department calculated that the labor force increased 7,100 to 2,677,900 and total employment increased 2,600. However, that increase in employment was not enough to offset the increase in labor force participation. The number of unemployed thus increased by 4,500.

The release of February's employment numbers follows a report that Colorado's unemployment rate in January (9.1 percent) was higher than the national average for the first time in years, and the highest it had been since 1976.

The national unemployment rate declined from 9.0 percent in January to 8.9 percent in February.

In Colorado, the biggest employment gains were in the professional and business services; trade, transportation and utilities; and leisure and hospitality sectors.

The most significant declines were in construction and financial services.