Department of Numbers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Denver fell 0.0 percentage points in October 2023 to 3.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.0 percentage points lower than the Colorado rate. The unemployment rate in Denver peaked in May 2020 at 12.4% and is now 9.1 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.6 percentage points. You can also compare Denver unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.9% +0.1 +0.2
Colorado 3.3% +0.1 +0.5
Denver 3.3% 0.0 +0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with October 2023 data as November 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 145,477 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 11,711. Denver employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Denver, Colorado) is also available.

Unemployed Persons October 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Denver 58,088 +1,102 +10,974

Number of Unemployed Persons

Denver, Colorado Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Colorado
Unemployment Rate
Denver
Unemployment Rate
Denver
Unemployed
November
2023
3.7%
October
2023
3.9% 3.3% 3.3% 58,088
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
December
2022
3.5% 2.8% 2.7% 47,078

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.