Department of Numbers

Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colorado Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Denver fell 0.0 percentage points in March 2023 to 2.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Colorado rate. The unemployment rate in Denver peaked in May 2020 at 12.4% and is now 9.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.0 percentage points. You can also compare Denver unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.5% -0.1 -0.1
Colorado 2.8% -0.1 -0.5
Denver 2.7% 0.0 -0.6
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with March 2023 data as April 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 156,544 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 46,790 in January 2023, the number of unemployed has now grown by 231. Denver employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Denver, Colorado) is also available.

Unemployed Persons March 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Denver 47,021 -552 -9,441

Number of Unemployed Persons

Denver, Colorado Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Colorado
Unemployment Rate
Denver
Unemployment Rate
Denver
Unemployed
April
2023
3.4%
March
2023
3.5% 2.8% 2.7% 47,021
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
November
2022
3.6% 2.8% 2.7% 47,088
October
2022
3.7% 2.8% 2.7% 47,114
September
2022
3.5% 2.8% 2.7% 47,146
August
2022
3.7% 2.6% 2.7% 47,084
July
2022
3.5% 2.7% 2.7% 47,237
June
2022
3.6% 2.8% 2.8% 48,117
May
2022
3.6% 2.9% 2.9% 50,030

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.