O’Donnell: Behind the headlines, Colorado’s job growth tells a different story
By Mike O’Donnell | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Last week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released April 2025 job creation numbers by state.
The national numbers were released earlier in the month and for the nation as a whole 177,000 new jobs were created in April, and this was considered a “solid” number by those who consider themselves experts. Colorado’s share of that total was 8,400 and those same experts consider that an “exceptionally solid” month for Colorado. Somewhere, champagne corks were likely popped.
Nonetheless, behind every number is a story and that story for Colorado is quite revealing.
Yes, Colorado added 8,400 new jobs in April – but 5,500 (65%) were in bars and restaurants, and 4,500 (54%) in health care and social assistance.
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