Northern Colorado (Larimer and Weld Counties) – Labor Market Profile

Challenge

Northern Colorado, comprised of Larimer and Weld Counties, has been remarkably successful in attracting population for decades, drawn by the region’s high quality of life, strong postsecondary institutions, and abundant economic opportunity. Since 1990, the region’s population has more than doubled, with net domestic migration as the primary driver of change. However, after years of growth rates that consistently outpaced the state and the US, overall population change in the two-county region has leveled off since 2020. While growth remains strong in both counties, a dramatic rise in net domestic migration over the past decade, combined with stable rates of natural increase, has made Weld County the driver of population increase in recent years. This shift has implications for the labor market ranging from changing commuting patterns to housing demand.

Response

As part of the preparation of a Northern Colorado talent strategy, local and regional partners commissioned TIP Strategies to update its 2017 workforce data analysis. TIP’s engagement with the community began at the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce’s Talent Summit in April 2025, where the team presented on national trends and shared preliminary regional data findings. The primary deliverable was the Northern Colorado Workforce Analysis, an interactive data visualization offering a robust look at the baseline characteristics of the Northern Colorado labor market as well as factors influencing the supply and demand of talent across Larimer and Weld Counties. Combining state and federal sources with job postings data, the analysis offered a real-time window into employer hiring needs. The workforce data update was also informed by an additional custom analytical tool prepared by TIP, the Northern Colorado Job Quality and Access (JQA). The JQA’s focus on occupational data sheds light on the factors affecting job quality (such as earnings, career opportunity, and job stability) and accessibility (as measured by barriers to entry and the demographic composition of the occupation) for more than 700 detailed occupations in the two-county region. This interactive analysis is designed to promote equitable growth and opportunity by helping stakeholders obtain a better understanding of job quality and accessibility. The interactive nature of the Northern Colorado Workforce Analysis and the JQA makes contextualized data available to regional partners for better-informed decision making. Insights from these analyses will be used in the next phase to support the identification of workforce development priorities and to provide context for the preparation of a stakeholder-aligned, partnership-driven regional strategy.