Industries with the highest employment in Denver
Written by:
February 25, 2021
Updated on February 26, 2021
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Industries with the highest employment in Denver
The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.
Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was , with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary鈥攚orkers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.
compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area using data from . Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.
Keep reading to see which industries in Denver are the surest bets for employment.
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#19. Management of companies and enterprises
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 2,472 (0.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +116.7%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 2,472 (0.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +116.7%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
#18. Utilities
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 11,125 (0.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -1.7%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 11,125 (0.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -1.7%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
#17. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 12,672 (0.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +18.6%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 12,672 (0.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +18.6%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
#16. Real estate and rental and leasing
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 38,844 (2.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +26.5%
National
- Employed: 3,034,330
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #15 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 38,844 (2.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +26.5%
National
- Employed: 3,034,330
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #15 most common industry nationwide
#15. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 42,871 (2.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +29.7%
National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 42,871 (2.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +29.7%
National
- Employed: 3,532,697
- Percent of total employment: 2.2%
- #14 most common industry nationwide
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#14. Wholesale trade
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 44,398 (2.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +9.0%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 44,398 (2.7% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +9.0%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
#13. Information
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 54,656 (3.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +9.6%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 54,656 (3.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +9.6%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
#12. Public administration
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 67,999 (4.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +12.9%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 67,999 (4.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +12.9%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
#11. Administrative and support and waste management services
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 72,981 (4.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +16.9%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 72,981 (4.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +16.9%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
#10. Transportation and warehousing
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 76,372 (4.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +52.5%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 76,372 (4.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +52.5%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
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#9. Other services, except public administration
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 81,490 (5.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +28.4%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 81,490 (5.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +28.4%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
#8. Finance and insurance
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 92,868 (5.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +21.2%
National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 92,868 (5.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +21.2%
National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide
#7. Manufacturing
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 109,299 (6.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +20.6%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 109,299 (6.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +20.6%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
#6. Accommodation and food services
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 117,160 (7.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +28.9%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 117,160 (7.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +28.9%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
#5. Construction
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 128,491 (7.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +30.4%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 128,491 (7.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +30.4%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
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#4. Educational services
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 136,230 (8.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +43.8%
National
- Employed: 14,839,461
- Percent of total employment: 9.3%
- #4 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 136,230 (8.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +43.8%
National
- Employed: 14,839,461
- Percent of total employment: 9.3%
- #4 most common industry nationwide
#3. Retail trade
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 154,067 (9.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +8.4%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 154,067 (9.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +8.4%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
#2. Professional, scientific, and technical services
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 189,369 (11.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +53.3%
National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 189,369 (11.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +53.3%
National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide
#1. Health care and social assistance
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO Metro Area
- Employed: 203,122 (12.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +42.5%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
- Employed: 203,122 (12.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +42.5%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
