Colorado's
Competitiveness

Business
Climate

Workforce &
Talent

Cost of Living

Quality of Life

Manufacturing
& Tech

Colorado Scorecard

Workforce & Talent

Colorado’s Workforce

Colorado Population

5,877,610


(Increasing)
Unemployment Rate

4%


(Increasing)

Colorado Jobs

Open Jobs​

2,997,400


(Increasing)
Number of Jobs Year Over Year Change

1.4%


(Unchanged)
Median Full-time Salary for Open Positions​

$57,491


(Increasing)
Remote Workers​

16.5%


(Decreasing)
Remote Jobs Available

30,939

(Decreasing)

Education

College Affordability​
4-year

35th


(Declining)
College Affordability​
2-year

31st


(Declining)
State and Local Funding for Higher Education

35th


(Improving)
High School Graduation Rate​

83.1%


(Increasing)
Available Apprenticeships​

7,319


(Increasing)

Business Workforce Sentiment

Business Satisfaction with Workforce​

71%


(Improving)
Companies Expanding Workforce in State

34%


(Decreasing)
Business Satisfaction with Higher Education

58%


(Declining)

CO Population

2023: 5,877,610
2022: 5,839,926
2020: 5,773,733

Source: U.S. Census

Unemployment Rate

September 2024: 4%
July 2023: 2.9%
July 2022: 2.7%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Open Jobs

2024: 2,997,400
2023: 2,907,000
2022: 2,867,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Number of Jobs Year Over Year Change

2023: 1.4%
2023: 1.4%
2022: 2.5%

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Full-time Salary for Open Positions

2024: $57,491
2023: $53,040
2022: $52,000

Source: Aspen Technology Labs

Remote Workers by State

2022: 16.5%
2021: 23.7%
2020: 10.8%

Source: U.S. Census

Number of Remote Jobs Available

2023: 30,939
2022: 47,763

Source: Aspen Technology Labs

College Affordability Rankings

4-year:
2024: 35th
2023: 34th
2022: 34th

2-year:
2024: 31st
2023: 29th
2022: 28th

State and Local Funding for Higher Education:
2024: 35th
2023: 45th
2022: 44th

Source: CollegeBoard

High School Graduation Rate

2023: 83.1%
2022: 82.3%
2021: 81.7%

Source: Colorado Department of Education

Available Apprenticeships

2024: 7,319
2023: 6,046
2022: 5,531

Source: U.S. Department of Labor

CO Businesses Satisfaction with Workforce

2023: 71%
2022: 67%

Source: Colorado Chamber Business Leader Survey

Companies Expanding Workforce in CO

2023: 34%
2022: 36%

Source: Colorado Chamber Business Leader Survey

CO Businesses Satisfaction with Higher Education

2023: 58%
2022: 77%

Source: Colorado Chamber Business Leader Survey