RBC I The Rio Blanco County unemployment rate is not as low as it was a year ago, but the figures for September indicate that the jobless rate fell more than a half point, from 5.1 percent in August to 4.5 percent in September.
In figures provided for the non-seasonably adjusted unemployment picture in the county, September of 2014 had a jobless rate of 4.3 percent, only .2 percent better than September this year, with the last three months—from July 2015 through September—all showing decreases from the previous months and from the same months in 2014.
According to figures provided by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Rio Blanco County had 2,880 persons in the available labor force for September while 2,732 were employed and 128 were not. That amounts to a 4.5 percent jobless rate for September.
In August, there were 2,917 in the available labor force while 2.789 were working and 148 were not, for a 5.1 percent unemployment rate.
In September of 2014, there were 3,042 folks in the available work force in the county while 2,912 were working and 130 were jobless for a 4.3 percent unemployment rate.
While Rio Blanco County’s jobless rate continues to drop, Rio Blanco County is tied for the 13th worst jobless rate in Colorado’s 64 counties.
Colorado’s overall jobless rate continued its solid drop with September’s state jobless rate of 3.3 percent. The Department of Labor and Employment reported that there were 2,811,314 in the overall available Colorado work force with 2,717,818 employed and 93,496 without jobs for the 3.3 percent rate.
That compares to the jobless rates of 3.8 percent in August this year and 4.1 percent in September 2014.
In August this year, there were 2,819,731 in the available work force, 2,712,501 who were actually employed and 107,230 who were jobless. That equates to a 3.8 percent jobless rate.
In September 2014, there were 2,831 person in the available labor force, 2,715,195 who were actively employed and 116,555 who were jobless for a rate of 4.1 percent.
The four Colorado counties with the highest unemployment rates (and the county seats) are: Saguache (Saguache) 6.2 percent; Huerfano (Walsenburg) 6.1 percent and tied: Costilla (San Luis) and Fremont (Canon City) at 5.2 percent. There are several counties with 5.1 and 5.0 percent jobless rates.
The five Colorado counties with the lowest jobless rates (and their county seats) are: Dolores (Dove Creek) 1.6 percent; Baca County (Springfield) with 1.7 percent; Phillips County (Holyoke) at 1.9 percent; and tied: Kiowa (Eads) and Kit Carson (Burlington) counties at 2.2 percent.
