Colorado Unemployment In September Was 4.7 Percent

DENVER (AP) - Colorado gained 14,600 jobs in September and the unemployment rate dropped to 4.7 percent, with most of the gains coming from the private sector, state officials said Tuesday.

The jobless rate fell from 5.1 percent in August to its lowest level since June 2008, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said. The national unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point in September, to 5.9 percent.

The state has now had 35 consecutive months of payroll job gains, Gov. John Hickenlooper said.

"This is a testament to the resilience, the work ethic, and to the innovative spirit of Coloradans all across this incredible state," he said in a statement.

The governor said that it is time "to seize momentum" so every community in Colorado sees the benefits of economic growth.

Over the year, the average workweek for all Colorado employees on private nonfarm payrolls dropped from 35.2 to 34.3 hours and average hourly earnings increased from $26.11 to $26.39.