Press Releases

On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, Governor Jared Polis signed SB21-095, extending the Employment First Advisory Partnership (EFAP) and creating a hiring preference pilot program for qualified applicants with disabilities, developed by the Governor’s office, the Attorney General’s office, the Department of Personnel Administration (DPA), the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

DENVER - Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 21-1150 on June 25, 2021, creating an Office of New Americans in Colorado’s Department of Labor and Employment, expanding work done by the New American Integration Initiative which launched in November of 2019.

According to the survey of households, Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined two-tenths of a percentage point in May to 6.2 percent. During the same period, the national unemployment rate decreased three-tenths of a percentage point to 5.8 percent.

June is National Safety Month, and the Division of Workers’ Compensation (a part of the Department of Labor and Employment) uses this annual focus on safety to stress the importance of workplace safety. Governor Polis has issued a proclamation declaring June as Colorado Workplace Safety Month.

(DENVER) — Today the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) reported that 4,119 regular initial unemployment claims were filed the week ending May 22nd. There were also 877 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) initial claims filed for the same week. 

(DENVER) — Fourth quarter 2020 Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) results indicate Colorado total nonfarm payroll jobs estimates will be revised up for this period with the release of benchmarked estimates in March 2022. December 2020 estimates are expected to be revised up by about 20,500 nonfarm payroll jobs, or eight-tenths of a percentage point. October and November 2020 estimates are expected to be revised up by about 15,700 and 14,500 nonfarm payroll jobs, respectively. Applying these results through April 2021 brings estimated total nonfarm payroll jobs in April to 2,711,400. This change brings over the year payroll job growth estimates through April 2021 to 268,200 or 11.0 percent.

According to the survey of households, Colorado’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was flat in April at 6.4 percent. During the same period, the national unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 6.1 percent.

(DENVER) — Today the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) reported that an estimated 4,132 regular initial unemployment claims were filed the week ending May 15th. There were also 712 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) initial claims filed for the same week. Since mid-March 2020, an estimated total of 935,203 regular initial unemployment claims have been filed for a grand total of 1,205,142 claims, when the PUA program is included.*

(DENVER) — Today the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) reported that an estimated 4,395 regular initial unemployment claims were filed the week ending May 8th. This represents the first time since the start of the pandemic that Colorado has registered consecutive weeks with fewer than 5,000 regular initial claims. There were also 616 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) initial claims filed for the same week. Since mid-March 2020, an estimated total of 931,071 regular initial unemployment claims have been filed and a grand total of 1,200,298 claims, when the PUA program is included.*

(DENVER) — Today the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) reported that an estimated 4,472 regular initial unemployment claims were filed the week ending May 1st. There were also 618 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) initial claims filed for the same week. Since mid-March 2020, an estimated total of 926,676 regular initial unemployment claims have been filed and a grand total of 1,195,287 claims, when the PUA program is included.*