December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Colorado Employment Snapshot

• In December, Colorado added 300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent. In the prior month, Colorado lost 5,200 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Colorado added 48,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 1.1 percentage points from 3.3 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Colorado is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Colorado’s private sector lost 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 32,600 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Colorado lost 5,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Colorado fell by 3,327, and over the past 12 months it fell by 21,592.

• Colorado’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 67.9 percent in December and ranks 5th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.

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Colorado Payroll Employment

• Colorado added 300 net payroll jobs, or 0 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Colorado lost 5,200 jobs. Colorado nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 11 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Colorado is tied for 21st in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Colorado lost 800 private sector jobs, or 0 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Colorado lost 5,800 jobs. Colorado private sector payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Colorado is tied for 27th 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 December were Professional and Business Services (1,300) and Government (1,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Financial Activities (-1,200) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,300).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (16,000) and Education and Health Services (12,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (600) and Information (-3,800).

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 remained unchanged at 67.9 percent in December.

• Colorado ranks 5th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Colorado was 68.9 percent in December 2019, and the 10-year low was 65.4 percent in July 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.