Nonfarm Payroll Jobs Increase by 3,700 in July;
Unemployment Rate Decreases to 4.5 Percent
Household survey data
- According to the survey of households, the number of unemployed individuals decreased by 7,200 to 148,100 from June to July. Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point over the same time period to 4.5 percent. The national unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.2 percent from June to July.
- Colorado’s labor force decreased by 2,700 in July to 3,280,300. The share of Coloradans participating in the labor force was 67.6 percent in July, one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the month prior. The U.S. labor force participation rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 62.2 percent in July.
- The number of individuals employed in Colorado increased by 4,500 in July to 3,132,200, which represents 64.5 percent of the state’s 16+ population. Colorado’s employment-population ratio of 64.5 percent in July remained unchanged from the month prior. The national employment-population ratio decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 59.6 percent in July.
Establishment survey data
- Employers in Colorado gained 3,700 nonfarm payroll jobs from June to July for a total of 2,987,100 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments. Private sector payroll jobs increased by 2,900, while government gained 800 jobs.
- June estimates were revised down to 2,983,400, and the over the month change from May to June was a decrease of 2,700 jobs rather than the originally estimated decrease of 1,500 (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: construction (≈3,800) and trade, transportation, and utilities (≈2,800). The private industry sectors with significant over the month job losses were: leisure and hospitality (≈1,800) and educational and health services (≈1,100).
- Since July 2024, nonfarm payroll jobs have increased 16,400, with the private sector increasing by 5,500 and government adding 10,900 jobs. The largest private sector job gains were in leisure and hospitality (≈6,600), educational and health services (≈5,700), information (≈2,200), and manufacturing (≈1,000). During that same period, payroll jobs declined in trade, transportation, and utilities (≈4,000), financial activities (≈2,400), and professional and business services (≈2,100). Colorado’s rate of job growth over the past year is 0.6 percent, below the U.S. rate of 1.0 percent.
- Over the year, the average workweek for all Colorado employees on private nonfarm payrolls decreased from 33.5 to 33.4 hours, while average hourly earnings grew from $37.77 to $38.93, two dollars and forty-nine cents more than the national average hourly earnings of $36.44.
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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 2025 Colorado Employment Situation will be released at 8:00 AM on Friday, September 19, 2025. The full schedule of release dates for calendar year 2025 estimates is available at Labor Market Information.
Technical Notes
This release provides information on industry employment and labor force statistics for July 2025, 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