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COLORADO IN 1995

At better than 1.8 million employees, Colorado’s employment continued to expand and the economy continued to prosper. The addition of 74,966 employees over last year reflected the State’s strength. This year’s increase was down about 10,000 from the 1994 gain but mirrored the 1993 employment increase. As in previous years, Balance of State growth had a slight edge over Metro Denver. Arahahoe county in Metro Denver and El Paso county in Balance of State added the greatest numbers of new employees.

In absolute numbers Services and Retail Trade were the number one and two largest growing industries in Colorado. This trend has continued for the last five years. High demand for temporary help and telemarketing services created much of the rise in Services employment. The desire to eat out, strong personal income growth and the health of the Colorado economy has effected the increases in Retail business establishments and the subsequent rise in Retail employment. Transportation, Communication and Public Utilities (TCPU) reported the largest percentage gain over last year. This increase is inflated, however, due to a gain of about 6000 employees from a SIC change out of Manufacturing which took place in January. Construction reported the fourth largest employment gain over the year slipping from third place. Increases were about half of what they had been in 1994 and 1993 due to the completion of Denver International Airport. Mining continued to be the weakest industry sector. Streamlining, closures, transfers out of state and varying prices for mined goods have hurt this industry over the years.

During 1995 total personal income in Colorado increased, in-migration tapered off and consumer spending slowed. Although the national economy was lackluster Colorado did well as evidenced by the strong real estate market and employment gains. Low unemployment, nonresidential construction projects and the perception of Colorado as a good place to do business will help the State sustain growth through 1996.


Average Employment Changes: 1993 to 1994
STATEWIDE+ 74,966+ 4.3%
AGRICULTURE+ 1,369+ 5.9%
MINING- 754- 4.8%
CONSTRUCTION+ 5,040+ 5.2%
MANUFACTURING+ 901+ 0.5%
TCPU+ 9,086+ 8.8%
WHOLESALE+ 4,462+ 4.9%
RETAIL+ 20,905+ 6.2%
FIRE+ 834+ 0.8%
SERVICES+ 28,766+ 6.0%
GOVERNMENT+ 4,467+1.5%



 19911992199319941995
Statewide1,526,3821,579,6341,653,9911,738,3681,813,334
Metro Denver839,058862,369895,077930,824965,485
Bal. of State687,324717,265758,914807,544847,849

Colorado Employment and Wages (ES202) Annual Average 1995