The Bureau of Labor Statistics compiles several measures of the Colorado unemployment rate. Each measure and its descriptions are listed below. In each case, the percentage has declined over the past year. The U-3 number is the headline number; however, many people think U-6 is more representative of the state of the economy because its definition is more inclusive.
| Measures of the Colorado Unemployment Rate | Sept. 2013 | Sept. 2014 |
|---|---|---|
| U-1 Persons unemployed 15 weeks or longer, as a percent of the civilian labor force. | 3.80% | 2.80% |
| U-2 Job losers and persons who completed temporary jobs, as a percent of the civilian labor force. | 3.70% | 2.90% |
| U-3 Total unemployed, as a percent of the civilian labor force (headline unemployment rate). | 7.20% | 5.90% |
| U-4 Total unemployed plus discouraged workers, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus discouraged workers. | 7.70% | 6.40% |
| U-5 Total unemployed, plus discouraged workers, plus all other persons marginally attached to the labor force, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force. | 8.60% | 7.30% |
| U-6 Total unemployed, plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force, plus total employed part-time for economic reasons, as a percent of the civilian labor force plus all persons marginally attached to the labor force. | 13.60% | 11.80% |