Department of Numbers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Denver rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 3.4%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Colorado rate. The unemployment rate in Denver peaked in May 2020 at 12.4% and is now 9.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.7 percentage points. You can also compare Denver unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Colorado 3.3% 0.0 +0.5
Denver 3.4% +0.1 +0.7
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Denver, Colorado, National

Denver, Colorado monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Denver, Colorado Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Denver peaked in May 2020 at 203,565. There are now 144,835 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 46,377 in April 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 12,353. Denver employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Denver, Colorado) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Denver 58,730 +625 +11,642

Number of Unemployed Persons

Denver, Colorado Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Colorado
Unemployment Rate
Denver
Unemployment Rate
Denver
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.3% 3.4% 58,730
October
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.3% 58,105
September
2023
3.8% 3.2% 3.3% 56,986
August
2023
3.8% 3.1% 3.1% 54,818
July
2023
3.5% 2.9% 3.0% 51,767
June
2023
3.6% 2.8% 2.8% 49,207
May
2023
3.7% 2.8% 2.7% 47,546
April
2023
3.4% 2.8% 2.7% 46,377
March
2023
3.5% 2.8% 2.7% 47,046
February
2023
3.6% 2.9% 2.7% 47,573
January
2023
3.4% 2.8% 2.7% 46,790

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.