Weld County Sees Job Growth Led By Natural Resources, Mining
On Wednesday the US Bureau of Labor Statistics released its latest year-to-year US employment data. The data found that 319 of the 339 largest US counties saw job growth from 2013 to 2014. The biggest counties were defined as those with at least 75,000 jobs, a press release on the data noted. The statistics indicate that Weld County, CO in 2014 was once again the top job-producing county in the US, after taking that position in 2013. Of the jobs added between 2013 and 2014 in the county, the largest portion came from the natural resources and mining sector, which added 2,074 jobs, a 19.6% increase. The Denver Post reports that overall the county saw an 8% rise in year-to-year employment growth from 2013 to 2014. However, the county’s position as the top job-producer may be in jeopardy due to lower oil prices, as many of the area’s jobs are tied to the oil and gas industry, the Post notes. In Q4 2014, the county saw its jobs increase tie with Midland County, TX. Colorado’s Adams County saw a 6.4% annual gain in employment in December, making it the third-best US county for job growth. The state’s Douglas County was also near the top of the rankings. In contrast, Atlantic County, New Jersey saw the biggest 2013 to 2014 job loss, with 5% fewer jobs in 2014 than in 2013.
What This Means For Small Businesses
Colorado’s small business owners should be encouraged by news of strong job growth. This latest data is an encouraging sign that the Denver metro area, and the state as a whole, are small business-friendly.
Additional Reading
NFIB previously covered positive economic news for the Denver metro area.