Press Release: Colorado Employment Situation – July 2026

Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Increase by 5,800 in July; Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 3.9 Percent

Household survey data

• According to the survey of households, the number of unemployed individuals increased by 200 to 125,000 from June to July. Colorado's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged over the same time period at 3.9 percent. The national unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.1 percent from June to July.
  
• Colorado's labor force decreased by 4,300 in July to 3,189,000. The share of Coloradans participating in the labor force was 65.5 percent in July, one-tenth of a percentage point lower than in June, this marks the lowest labor force participation rate since July 2020. The U.S. labor force participation rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 61.4 percent in July.
  
• The number of individuals employed in Colorado decreased by 4,500 in July to 3,064,000, which represents 62.9 percent of the state's 16+ population. Colorado's employment-population ratio of 62.9 percent in July decreased one-tenth of a percentage point from July. The national employment-population ratio decreased onetenth of a percentage point from the month prior to 58.9 percent in July.

Establishment survey data

• Employers in Colorado gained 5,800 nonfarm payroll jobs from June to July for a total of 2,973,700 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased by 6,500, while government decreased by 700.
  
• June estimates were revised down to 2,967,900, and the over the month change from May to June was an increase of 1,900 jobs rather than the originally estimated increase of 4,800 (monthly revisions are based on additional responses from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates).
  
• The private industry sectors with significant over the month job gains in July were: professional and business services (≈2,000), education and health services (≈1,800), and other services (≈1,500). There were no private industry sectors with significant over the month job losses in July.
  
• Since July 2025, nonfarm payroll jobs have increased by 12,100, with the private sector increasing by 16,700 and government decreasing by 4,600 jobs. The largest private sector job gains were in education and health services (≈15,500), leisure and hospitality (≈9,000), construction (≈5,600), and professional and business services (≈1,700). During that same period, payroll jobs declined in information (≈5,600), financial activities (≈5,300), other services (≈1,900), and manufacturing (≈1,400). Colorado's rate of job growth over the past year is 0.4 percent, above the U.S. rate of 0.2 percent.
  
• Over the year, the average workweek for all Colorado employees on private nonfarm payrolls was unchanged at 33.4 hours, while average hourly earnings grew from $38.91 to $39.63, two dollars and one cent more than the national average hourly earnings of $37.62.

###

Informational Section

All Colorado estimates from the establishment and household surveys, including greater geographic detail, are available at Colorado LMI Gateway. Estimates for all states and the nation are available at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For data visualizations, visit CDLE's Labor Market Information on Tableau.

The August 2026 Colorado Employment Situation will be released at 8:00 AM on Friday, September 18, 2026. The full schedule of release dates for calendar year 2026 estimates is available at Labor Market Information.

Technical Notes

This release provides information on industry employment and labor force statistics for July 2026, the most current estimates available from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The reference period for the establishment survey was the pay period or week that includes the 12th of the month.

The unemployment rate, labor force, labor force participation, total employment, and the number of unemployed are based on a survey of households. The total employment estimate derived from this survey is intended to measure the number of people employed.

Nonfarm payroll jobs estimates are based on a survey of business establishments and government agencies, and are intended to measure the number of jobs, not the number of people employed. Other series based on this survey include private sector average weekly hours, average hourly earnings, and average weekly earnings.

The business establishment survey covers about seven times the number of households surveyed and is therefore considered a more reliable indicator of economic conditions. Because the estimates are based on two separate surveys, one measuring jobs by worksite and the other measuring persons employed and unemployed by household, estimates based on these surveys may provide seemingly conflicting results.

Resources Mentioned

July 2026 Press Release