The latest BLS data for Colorado show that August 2026 employment is 6,600 greater than a year ago. It has been a hit-and-miss year for the labor market. There was modest growth in June and July, but it tapered off in August.

On a positive note, YOY employment in accommodation and food services is 11,200 more than last August, and healthcare employment is 10,200 more than a year ago. YOY data for state government employment is 3,600 more in 2026, and private education and construction employment both have 2,200 more employees than a year ago. There are some bright signs.

After bouncing between 3.8% and 3.9% since July 2025, the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.0% in August. For more details, click here for the most recent cber.co update.

Make plans now to attend the 2026 State Demography Summit on November 6, 2026. The Summit is a one-day conference that offers attendees the opportunity to learn about the most current population and economic estimates and forecasts for the state, its regions, counties, and municipalities. For questions, contact Joe Davidson with questions at joe.davidson@state.co.us.