January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Colorado Employment Snapshot
In January, Colorado added 3,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Colorado added 1,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Colorado added 22,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.9 percentage points from 3.8 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Colorado is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Colorado’s private sector added 1,800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 7,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Colorado lost 900 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Colorado rose by 2,228, and over the past 12 months it rose by 8,087.
Colorado’s labor force participation rate rose to 68 percent in January from 67.9 percent and ranks 7th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has remained unchanged.
Colorado Payroll Employment
Colorado added 3,900 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Colorado added 1,400 jobs. Colorado nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Colorado is tied for 31st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Colorado added 1,800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Colorado lost 900 jobs. Colorado private sector payroll employment has increased in 7 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Colorado is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Education and Health Services (2,500) and Government (2,100).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (-1,000) and Construction (-2,400).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (15,000) and Education and Health Services (5,900).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Information (-3,200) and Professional and Business Services (-4,000).
Colorado Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Colorado rose to 68 percent in January from 67.9 percent in the prior month.
Colorado ranks 7th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Colorado was 68.8 percent occurring in January 2020, and the 10-year low was 65.4 percent in July 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.