May 2025
Released June 24, 2025
Released April 18, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In May, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 13, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 24.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.9 percent in District of Columbia, and the lowest was 1.8 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in May.
In May, payroll jobs rose in 37 states and fell in 11. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Montana. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.4 percent in Connecticut.
Colorado Employment Snapshot
In May, Colorado added 3,400 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.8 percent. In the prior month, Colorado added 14,900 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Colorado added 22,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points from 4.1 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Colorado is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In May, Colorado’s private sector added 3,700 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 10,200 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Colorado added 13,300 net private payroll jobs.
In May, employment in Colorado fell by 631, and over the past 12 months it fell by 5,773.
Colorado’s labor force participation rate fell to 67.7 percent in May from 67.8 percent and ranks 7th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.4 percentage points.
Colorado Payroll Employment
Colorado added 3,400 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Colorado added 14,900 jobs. Colorado nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 139,000 in May, or 0.1 percent. Colorado is tied for 33rd in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Colorado added 3,700 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during May. In the prior month, Colorado added 13,300 jobs. Colorado private sector payroll employment has increased in 6 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in May, or 0.1 percent. Colorado is tied for 38th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during May were Education and Health Services (2,400) and Other Services (1,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Professional and Business Services (-900) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Government (12,000) and Education and Health Services (9,200).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-3,400) and Professional and Business Services (-3,800).
Colorado Labor Force
The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The labor force participation rate in Colorado fell to 67.7 percent in May from 67.8 percent in the prior month.
Colorado ranks 7th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Colorado was 68.8 percent occurring in January 2020, and the 10-year low was 65.4 percent in July 2020.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in May.