Counties with the highest unemployment in Colorado
The first jobs report fully under the new Trump administration showed a softening job market, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.1% in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released March 7.
Job growth increased but fell below expectations, one of several possible fissures appearing in the once rock-solid labor market. Businesses are pulling back on hiring as the economic forecast and policy outlook grow murkier due to volatile trade policies and large cuts to the federal workforce.
Federal government employment fell by 10,000 in February, pushing up total cuts to the federal workforce. In the first two months of 2025, 62,530 federal workers were let go. However, the most recent cuts, including the Department of Education's workforce getting slashed by nearly half, have not yet appeared in official jobs data. Retail employment also fell by 6,000.
The broader unemployment index, known as the U-6, which also includes laborers working part-time because they can't find full-time work, and those who want to work but have given up searching, rose to 8%, its highest since October 2021.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Colorado, using BLS data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in January 2025, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Key takeaways: Jobs report shows softening labor market
February's job growth of 151,000 fell below economists' expected gains of 160,000, showing the labor market is cooling faster than predicted. Experts say many companies weighing policy changes and economic uncertainty are deciding it's safer to hold off on hiring decisions for now.
"If you were a company and you were saying, 'I'm looking to expand, or I'm looking to hire,' you would have investors in those companies saying, 'Are you crazy?'" Ron Hetrick, senior labor economist at Lightcast, told Marketplace.
Consumer spending fell in January for the first time in two years, which may have led to layoffs or hiring slowdowns, Nela Richardson, ADP's chief economist, told NBC News.
The big story: From bold promises to frozen labor market
After an initial market pop following Trump's electoral win, indexes have slumped to below when he took office, and uncertainty about the future of the markets is a common theme. Are threatened tariffs in place, delayed, reversed, or ramped up? Has that federal worker been fired or given their job back? Are those federal dollars slashed or reinstated? It's a question mark that changes daily.
Research shows that uncertainty invites lower investment, slows employment, and increases financial market volatility. The word "uncertain" showed up 47 times in the March edition of the Beige Book, the Federal Reserve's snapshot of reports from across the nation, compared to 17 times in the previous report from January.
The new administration's blitz of executive orders and trade policy waffling have cast a dense fog over the short-term economic outlook. One thing that is known? Uncertainty isn't good for business planning, job creation, or hiring.
In a March 12 interview with Semafor, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon noted that average consumers likely don't change "what they're going to do because they read about tariffs," but "companies might."
"Uncertainty is not a good thing," Dimon added.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Colorado.
50. Kiowa County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 684 people (28 unemployed)
47. Sedgwick County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,029 people (43 unemployed)
47. Baca County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,605 people (67 unemployed)
47. Garfield County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 34,745 people (1,443 unemployed)
44. San Juan County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 491 people (21 unemployed)
44. Crowley County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: -1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: -0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,709 people (74 unemployed)
44. Prowers County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,525 people (239 unemployed)
42. Elbert County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 16,155 people (709 unemployed)
42. Logan County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 10,165 people (448 unemployed)
40. Gilpin County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,737 people (170 unemployed)
40. Douglas County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.5%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 224,521 people (10,083 unemployed)
39. Broomfield County/city
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 45,925 people (2,129 unemployed)
36. Clear Creek County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,728 people (267 unemployed)
36. Boulder County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 194,122 people (9,179 unemployed)
36. Morgan County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 14,408 people (676 unemployed)
33. Larimer County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 207,553 people (9,970 unemployed)
33. Arapahoe County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 378,567 people (18,147 unemployed)
33. Jefferson County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 341,464 people (16,314 unemployed)
31. Teller County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 13,039 people (651 unemployed)
31. El Paso County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5%
--- 1-month change: +0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 385,549 people (19,328 unemployed)
25. La Plata County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 29,485 people (1,494 unemployed)
25. Rio Blanco County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.0 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,806 people (142 unemployed)
25. Moffat County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,577 people (337 unemployed)
25. Chaffee County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,635 people (495 unemployed)
25. Archuleta County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,767 people (347 unemployed)
25. Park County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,584 people (488 unemployed)
22. Denver County/city (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 452,974 people (23,480 unemployed)
22. Weld County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 177,379 people (9,285 unemployed)
22. Adams County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 304,021 people (15,917 unemployed)
21. Hinsdale County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: +1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 342 people (18 unemployed)
18. Custer County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,057 people (111 unemployed)
18. Dolores County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,022 people (55 unemployed)
18. Mesa County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 80,197 people (4,351 unemployed)
17. Conejos County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.5%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,285 people (182 unemployed)
16. Saguache County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.7%
--- 1-month change: +0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,074 people (176 unemployed)
15. Montrose County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: +1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 20,138 people (1,159 unemployed)
12. Lincoln County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +2.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.7 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,622 people (98 unemployed)
12. Ouray County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,385 people (144 unemployed)
12. Alamosa County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6%
--- 1-month change: +1.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,595 people (452 unemployed)
11. Bent County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.1%
--- 1-month change: +2.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +2.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,722 people (105 unemployed)
10. Otero County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
--- 1-month change: +0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,962 people (449 unemployed)
7. Pueblo County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 73,710 people (4,851 unemployed)
7. Rio Grande County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: +0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,119 people (340 unemployed)
7. Mineral County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: +1.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +4.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 497 people (33 unemployed)
6. Delta County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7%
--- 1-month change: +1.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,144 people (851 unemployed)
5. Montezuma County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 11,075 people (784 unemployed)
4. Fremont County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: +0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,609 people (1,127 unemployed)
3. Las Animas County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 8.1%
--- 1-month change: +1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +1.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,710 people (460 unemployed)
2. Huerfano County (tie)
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 9%
--- 1-month change: +1.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,498 people (225 unemployed)
1. Costilla County
- January unemployment rate (preliminary): 9.4%
--- 1-month change: +3.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: +3.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,271 people (119 unemployed)
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Ben Popken, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
