Job openings in Colorado decline as employers presumably find the staff they need

After two years of labor shortages, Colorado’s job market seems to be turning around, at least for some employers.

A new analysis by Aspen Tech Labs, an Aspen-based agency focused on recruitment, found that the number of job vacancies in Colorado dropped 8% during the second quarter. Openings were down by 9,700 in three months to 110,522 by the end of June. The state wasn’t a standout, though. Other states also saw declines. Colorado ranked 33rd highest.

Still, this reverses the trend Colorado saw in the past two years when employers were desperate for workers. Some complained of attracting zero candidates, others said new applicants were not showing up for interviews or even work if they were hired. (On the other hand, some workers were complaining about unlivable wages and the quality of job openings.)

“This is a more positive trend because employers have had a really tough time hiring workers and retaining workers, especially during and after COVID,” said Loren Furman, president of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, which commissioned the report. “I’m hoping the numbers are indicators that we’re seeing some improvements.”

As small businesses began recovering from pandemic disruptions in 2021, the large number of openings kept growing. Colorado ranked among the highest nationwide for available jobs outnumbering unemployed workers. The ratio’s been more than 2-to-1 since January 2022. In April, there were 2.7 openings per unemployed Coloradan, ranking the state the eighth highest, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

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