In 2013, 68,100 jobs were added, an increase of 2.9% compared to 2012. By comparison the annualized rate of the state’s job growth was 2.0% for 1990 to 2013.
Just over 70% of the jobs added were in the Denver MSA.
Between 1900 and 2013, Denver (1.8%) and Pueblo (1.3%) added jobs at annualized rates below the average for the state (2.0%). The other five MSAs added jobs at faster rates than the state:
- Greeley, 2.9%.
- Fort Collins, 2.6%.
- Grand Junction, 2.4%.
- Colorado Springs, 2.2%.
- Boulder, 2.1%.
The Denver and Boulder MSAs had growth patterns similar to the state, while the growth patterns for the other 5 MSAs were different. For example, the Greeley and Mesa MSAs patterns were different because of oil and gas activity.
The recovery from the Great Recession was led by Fort Collins and Greeley, followed by Boulder and Denver – then Pueblo. Grand Junction and Colorado Springs have not returned to 2008 peak employment.
©Copyright 2011 by CBER.