For recent graduates, entry-level jobs are the first step toward building a career. In Boulder County—home to a major research university—new talent consistently enters the workforce. In 2024, CU Boulder graduated 9,837 students, following over 10,000 graduates the year prior. However, despite this steady matriculation of talent, Boulder County losses workers to surrounding counties and states. In 2022, the most recent year with complete data, the county saw a net outbound migration of 3,264 people, a 10-year high.
This article examines the state of the entry-level labor market in Boulder through a job posting analysis, and explores the connections between job availability, migration trends, and CU Boulder’s role in replenishing the local workforce.
Summary: Entry Level Job Postings
Job Posting Parameters:
- Date: Feb 2024 – Feb 2025.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Full time, non-internship postings.
Employers in Boulder County are competing for entry-level talent at a similar rate as they are for experienced workers, despite lower overall demand. While the total number of postings and the share of employers seeking entry-level candidates are significantly smaller than those targeting all experience levels, key hiring metrics tell a different story. The median posting duration and posting intensity indicate that employers equally eager to fill both entry-level and experienced positions.