Updated forecast predicts greater job growth in Colo.

Colorado could add about 35,000 jobs in 2012, a modest improvement that nonetheless places it among the top job-creating states in the nation, a leading state economist said Thursday.

Richard Wobbekind of the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business said Colorado’s job growth rate was up to about 1.6 percent midway through the year.

If that pace holds steady, Colorado would place sixth nationally in terms of job growth, he said.

The figures are an improvement from last December, when Wobbekind’s forecast totaled about 23,000 jobs for the year.

“You might say it’s balanced growth, which is symptomatic of a broad-based recovery in the economy,” said Wobbekind. “Both primary and feeder industries have picked up, and we’ve seen job growth in most industries, including tourism, natural resources, transportation and utilities, with significant strength in the tech sector.”

Every industry except government and information is registering year-over-year employment growth. Sectors seeing the largest growth include professional and business services, construction, education, health services and leisure and hospitality, according