How many jobs were lost in Colorado last month?
Refreshed monthly
Colorado lost 1,400 jobs in August 2026, ranking it 41st among states in job growth. Those figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' state employment report, which tracks monthly job changes. Job numbers can swing month to month as local economies expand or contract, but over the past five years the state has averaged about 3,400 new jobs per month. These figures are often revised in later months as more complete data rolls in.
-1.4K
month to month change in number of jobs (August 2026)
41st
rank among states in monthly job growth (August 2026)
Colorado’s job loss of 1,400 in August 2026 was a directional change from the previous month. The latest monthly job change was down from the 3,800 gain in July 2026.
During the latest five year period (September 2021 to August 2026), Colorado gained jobs in 43 out of 60 months. August 2026 had the 13th-lowest job growth during this period. The highest gains during this period occurred in April 2022 (21,000) while job growth was weakest in June 2025 (-24,200).
There were 1,400 fewer jobs in August 2026 in Colorado than the previous month.
Monthly change in nonfarm employment, September 2021–August 2026, seasonally adjusted
Which Colorado sectors and industries had the best and worst job growth in August 2026?
The three supersectors with the highest job growth in August 2026 were professional, scientific, and technical services, accommodation and food services, and finance and insurance. Professional, scientific, and technical services added 1,900 jobs, more than the entire economy. Accommodation and food services gained 1,900 jobs, while finance and insurance added 900. The remaining supersectors either posted smaller gains or lost jobs during the month.
The three lowest-performing supersectors were administrative and support and waste management and remediation services, construction, and transportation, warehousing, and utilities. Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services lost 2,700 jobs in August 2026, while construction lost 2,200 jobs and transportation, warehousing, and utilities lost 900 jobs.
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The health care and social assistance sector lost 600 jobs during August 2026.
Change in jobs since previous month with circle size representing number of sector jobs in Colorado (August 2026)
How has Colorado's job growth changed over time?
In 2025, Colorado lost an average of 975 jobs every month. That's lower than the 2024 average monthly increase of 1,400, and the lowest since 2020. The 2025 average ranks as fourth-lowest in job growth since 2007.
When excluding the two pandemic-affected years of 2020 and 2021, job growth ranged from a loss of 8,800 on average every month in 2009 to a gain of 7,800 on average every month in 2014.
In 2025, Colorado lost an average of 975 jobs every month.
Average monthly change in the number of jobs, seasonally adjusted
Job growth among seven metro areas primarily in Colorado during August 2026 ranged from a loss of 200 jobs in the Boulder, CO area to a gain of 400 jobs in the Fort Collins, CO area.
Monthly job growth, by metro area
Metro areas where at least one of its primary counties are within Colorado
| Metro area | Change in jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | +400 | |
| 2. | +400 | |
| 3. | +100 | |
| 4. | +0 | |
| 5. | +0 | |
| 6. | -100 | |
| 7. | -200 |
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
