The jobless rate in the Grand Junction area dropped to 3.3 percent in October from 3.9 percent in October 2005, in part because of steady growth in its natural resources and construction sector, industry data showed Tuesday.

At the same time, the area’s labor force swelled by more than 5,000 to 76,852 from 71,739, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment report.

“When you break out the numbers, the big hitters are natural resources and construction,” said Joe Winter, senior economist for the Department of Labor and Employment.

Employment in the natural resources and construction sector jumped by 1,300 people to 7,800 in October from 6,500 in October 2005, the report showed.

That job growth is changing the economic mix in the Grand Junction area, which is benefiting from a booming natural gas industry.

“Instead of just tourism, you have another source of well-paying jobs,” Winter said.

Other sectors that posted steady growth in the period were professional and business services, trade and transportation and local government, the report found.

Employment in professional and business services climbed 700 to 5,800 in October from 5,100 in October 2005. During the same time, trade and transportation added 400 jobs raising its total to 13,000.

Meanwhile, the local government sector increased its labor force to 5,700 in October from 5,400 in October 2005, the Labor Department reported.

The manufacturing sector was the only one to post a loss in the one-year period, reducing its work force by 100 to 3,400.

All told, the employment outlook is bright in Grand Junction, said Sue Tuffin, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center.

“It’s not a surprise to us. We have been watching the unemployment rate go down steadily,” Tuffin said. “The job market is very hot right now.”

Tuffin said the Workforce Center currently has 1,200 jobs it’s trying to fill from employers throughout the area. She said opportunities are best in construction, energy, transportation and retail services.

“We are benefiting from an extraordinarily strong economy. We have employer listings and we can’t fill them,” Tuffin said. “If you are a job seeker a career seeker now is the time to take that opportunity.”

Of note, the unemployment rate in Colorado eased to 4.1 percent in October from 4.4 percent in October 2005, labor data showed. Ouray County had the lowest rate at 2.3 percent, while Costilla County had the highest at 7.4 percent.

Furthermore, the jobless rate nationally fell to 4.1 from 4.6, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data are not seasonally adjusted.

Wyatt Haupt can be reached via e-mail at whaupt@gjds.com.