Employment fell in 6 of the 9 largest counties in Colorado from December 2023 to December 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations Michael Hirniak noted that Denver County and Larimer County had the largest over-the-year declines in employment (-1.4 percent each). (See chart 1 and table 1.)

  

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Chart 1. Over-the-year percent change in covered employment among the largest counties in Colorado, December 2024

County	Percent change, December 2024
Denver	-1.4
Larimer	-1.4
Boulder	-1.3
Arapahoe	-0.4
Jefferson	-0.4
El Paso	-0.3
Douglas	0.0
Weld	1.2
Adams	1.5

Among the nine largest counties in Colorado, employment was highest in Denver County (563,700) in December 2024. Together, the nine largest counties accounted for 80.8 percent of total covered employment within the state. Nationwide, the 369 largest counties comprise 73.3 percent of total covered employment in the United States. (Large counties and county equivalents are those with annual average employment levels of 75,000 or more in 2023.)

All nine large Colorado counties reported average weekly wage gains over the year. (See chart 2.) Larimer County had the largest gain (+9.2 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among Colorado’s other eight large counties ranged from 6.5 percent to 2.5 percent.

  

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Chart 2. Over-the-year percent change in covered average weekly wages among the largest counties in Colorado, fourth quarter 2024

County	Percent change, fourth quarter 2024
Larimer	9.2
Douglas	6.5
Adams	6.2
El Paso	5.8
Boulder	5.5
Denver	4.9
Jefferson	3.7
Weld	2.8
Arapahoe	2.5

Weekly wages in 5 of the 9 largest counties in Colorado were above the national average of $1,507. Average weekly wages ranged from $1,979 in Denver County to $1,299 in Weld County.

Employment and wage levels (but not over-the-year changes) are also available for the 55 small counties in Colorado, defined as having employment below 75,000 in 2023. (See table 2.) Wage levels in 52 of the 55 smaller counties were below the national average. Broomfield County reported the highest average weekly wage ($2,245). San Juan County reported the lowest average weekly wage ($786) in the state.

Among all 64 Colorado counties, 17 reported average weekly wages of less than $950, 17 registered wages from $950 to $1,099, 13 had wages from $1,100 to $1,249, and 17 had average weekly wages of $1,250 or higher. (See map 1 and table 2.)

QCEW data for states have been included in this release in table 3. For additional information about quarterly employment and wages data, please read the Technical Note for the County Employment and Wages News Release or visit the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website.

Employment and Wages Annual Averages Online features comprehensive information by detailed industry on establishments, employment, and wages for the nation and all states. This publication is typically published in September of the following year of the reference period or shortly after the QCEW first quarter full data update.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

The County Employment and Wages release for the first quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.