March 2026 Labor Market Report

Summary

After a sharp decline in February, Colorado’s labor market showed modest improvement in March, adding 1,400 nonfarm jobs. Most of the gains came from the private sector, which grew by 1,300 jobs, while governments added 100 jobs. The leisure/hospitality and health services sectors, which grew by 1,800 jobs each, dominated industry-level employment growth while declines continued in Colorado’s technological and information sectors.

Key Findings

• Colorado’s job growth rate ranks poorly over the last year. Colorado’s nonfarm growth rate ranks 41st among all states over the last 12 months.
• Colorado experienced a slight employment increase in March. While job growth was weak in February, the labor market partially recovered in March with a gain of 1,400 jobs.
• Year-over-year, Colorado’s employment fell while the rest of the country’s rose. Over the last 12 months, Colorado’s private and nonfarm growth rates were -0.2% and -0.3%, respectively, while the national average was 0.2% and +0.1%.
• Only 2 of Colorado’s 11 jobs sectors grew over the last year. Construction and education & health services grew while all other sectors saw employment declines.

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