Pueblo, CO – January 2024 Jobs Report – Steady Growth with Healthcare Surge

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Pueblo’s job market started 2024 with continued expansion, adding over 200 new positions in January. While the pace slowed compared to the previous month, the overall trend remains positive, mirroring the national picture.

Highlights:

  • Job growth: Over 200 new jobs added, representing a 0.8% increase in total employment.
  • Unemployment rate: Stable at 4.2%, slightly above the national average.
  • Wage growth: Average weekly wages remained steady at around $840.

What Industries and Occupations Grew:

  • Healthcare and Social Assistance: Led the pack with over 100 new jobs, primarily in nursing and personal care roles.
  • Education and Government: Both added over 30 new positions each, driven by public sector hiring.
  • Retail Trade: Continued its upward trend with nearly 20 new jobs, concentrated in sales and customer service positions.

What Industries and Occupations Shrunk:

  • Leisure and Hospitality: Lost around 15 jobs, primarily in food service and accommodation sectors.
  • Manufacturing: Declined by a small number, mainly in production and transportation occupations.

Compare to Same Month Last Year:

  • Overall job growth slightly outpaced January 2023, with a 0.8% increase compared to 0.6%.
  • Healthcare and Education continued to be major growth sectors, mirroring the national trend.
  • Leisure and Hospitality saw a larger decline compared to the previous year, potentially reflecting seasonal adjustments.

Compare to Previous Month:

  • Job growth slowed down from December 2023, which saw over 300 new positions added.
  • All major sectors except Healthcare experienced a decrease in hiring compared to the previous month.

Future Outlook:

  • Pueblo’s job market is expected to continue growing in 2024, albeit at a slower pace than the previous year.
  • Healthcare, Education, and Government are likely to remain major sources of job creation.
  • Manufacturing and Leisure and Hospitality may see some fluctuations depending on national economic trends.

10 Growing Occupations:

  1. Registered Nurses
  2. Home Health Aides and Personal Care Aides
  3. Elementary and Middle School Teachers
  4. Retail Salespersons
  5. Customer Service Representatives
  6. Truck Drivers
  7. General Laborers
  8. Construction Laborers
  9. Cooks
  10. Waiters and Waitresses

10 Companies Hiring Now:

  1. Parkview Medical Center
  2. Pueblo City Schools
  3. Walmart
  4. Xcel Energy
  5. EVRAZ North America
  6. Pueblo Community College
  7. Home Depot
  8. Lowe’s
  9. City of Pueblo
  10. Centura Health

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