Data & Reports

While a Friday evening in the county’s urban centers might suggest a thriving dining scene, a broader macroeconomic reality is surfacing across Boulder County. Flattening foot traffic, a deepening cost-of-living crisis, and surging operational expenses, specifically labor, food, and rent—are the primary pressure points for the region’s hospitality industry. The U.S. restaurant industry is projected

The U.S. government shutdown, grinding into November 2025, has shuttered the federal agencies that publish critical economic data, leaving the Federal Reserve, investors, and business leaders “flying blind.” In this “information void,” a clear consensus of a deteriorating U.S. labor market is emerging from private-sector sources. Weekly data from ADP now shows private employers are shedding an average of 11,250

The resurgence of the Buffs under Coach Deion “Prime” Sanders has catalyzed an unprecedented economic windfall for Boulder, cementing the university’s role as a primary “anchor institution” for the regional economy. The impact extends far beyond the university’s campus, with the 2024 season alone generating a total regional economic impact of $146.5 million, a 23% increase

Nationally, the outdoor recreation economy contributes hundreds of billions of dollars annually, supporting millions of jobs in industries ranging from retail and tourism to manufacturing. Boulder accounts for $28 billion of the annual consumer spending related to outdoor recreation, which is about 3.2%—an impressive share considering the region’s relatively small population compared to larger metro

As the demand for artificial intelligence capabilities escalates, data centers are rapidly expanding across the U.S. to support the computing power AI requires. While Boulder still trails behind major tech hubs like Northern Virginia and Austin, it’s starting to make its mark. Due to strong research institutions and increasing tech investment, the city is creating

February 2025 The opening weeks of 2025 has been tumultuous for the US economy. Mass federal firings, inconsistent tariff policies, and bird flu related supply chain woes have created an unstable start to the year. Although the data has not fully caught up, there are still important signals from the beginning of the year. Change

Holiday Employment Insights Following the holiday rush, Boulder’s retail and service sectors are now reflecting the aftereffects of the annual surge in demand. With the month of December concluded, Lightcast, a labor market data provider, has updated the job posting figures. Using Lightcast job posting data, this report will explore labor demand data and advertised

Introduction The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act is a labor law enacted in 1988 that requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide at least 60 days’ notice before layoffs or workplace closures. The notice must be given not only to employees but also to their representatives (e.g., labor unions), local government