Denver Jobs & Employment Tracker 2026
Denver employment data — unemployment rate, job market trends, and workforce statistics. Updated monthly from FRED and BLS.
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
1.52M
MSA Jobs
$249B
Metro GDP
Monthly
Update Frequency
Denver Employment at a Glance
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
vs. 3.8% US avg
1.52M
MSA Nonfarm Employment
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood MSA
550K
Labor Force (County)
~531K employed
$249B
Metro GDP
Annual, Denver MSA
Denver Jobs Market Overview
The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro remains one of the most robust job markets in the Mountain West. With an unemployment rate of 3.4% — below the national average of 3.8% — Denver's diversified economy continues to draw employers and workers from across the country.
The metro's $72,800 per capita income reflects a highly educated workforce (51%+ with bachelor's degrees) and a growing tech, healthcare, and professional services sector. The energy industry remains significant, though the economy has diversified well beyond oil & gas over the past decade.
Top Employment Sectors
Estimated employment by major industry in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood MSA. Source: BLS QCEW estimates.
20% of MSA employment
12% of MSA employment
11% of MSA employment
10% of MSA employment
10% of MSA employment
7% of MSA employment
6% of MSA employment
5% of MSA employment
Seasonal Employment Patterns
Denver's unemployment typically dips in summer months due to outdoor recreation, tourism, and construction activity. Winter months (December–February) often see the highest unemployment as seasonal workers exit the labor force. When comparing year-over-year, use the same month for accurate seasonal adjustment.
Income Data
Per Capita Personal Income
$72,800
2023 — Denver County
80% above US average ($40,480)
Metro Area GDP
$249B
2023 — Annual
Denver ranks among the top 20 metro economies in the United States by GDP.
About This Data
Unemployment data is from FRED series CODENV5URN (Denver County unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted), published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program.
Nonfarm employment (SMU08197400000000001) covers the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood MSA and is published monthly by the BLS Current Employment Statistics (CES) program.
GDP data is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) via FRED, and is published annually with approximately a 12-month lag. Per capita income is also from BEA.
Sector employment estimates are based on BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) and are approximate.
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