February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

Download the full PDF for Colorado

Download the summary PDF for Colorado

United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

Colorado Employment Snapshot

• In February, Colorado lost 8,900 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.7 percent. In the prior month, Colorado added 500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Colorado added 500 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.8 percentage points from 3.9 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Colorado ranks 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Colorado’s private sector lost 10,300 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it lost 14,700 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Colorado lost 1,900 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Colorado fell by 3,954, and over the past 12 months it rose by 3,655.

• Colorado’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.9 percent in February from 68 percent and ranks 7th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.1 percentage points.

---

Colorado Payroll Employment

• Colorado lost 8,900 net payroll jobs, or -0.3 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Colorado added 500 jobs. Colorado nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 8 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Colorado ranks 45th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Colorado lost 10,300 private sector jobs, or -0.4 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Colorado lost 1,900 jobs. Colorado private sector payroll employment has increased in 5 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Colorado ranks 50th 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 February were Government (1,400) and Education and Health Services (1,100).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Other Services (-1,000) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-11,000).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (15,200) and Education and Health Services (4,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-8,500) and Professional and Business Services (-9,100).

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 fell to 67.9 percent in February from 68 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 fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.