Colorado’s economy continues to evolve, with some sectors growing steadily and new opportunities emerging across industries. As 2026 gets underway, understanding these developments can help businesses and professionals as they identify areas of growth, plan strategically, navigate the job market and more.
What’s ahead for 2026? How could the job market shift, and which sectors are poised to thrive? Whether you’re pursuing a full-time accounting role or are exploring consulting opportunities, here’s the big picture. Colorado’s Business Economic Outlook: 2026
The University of Colorado Boulder’s annual Business Economic Outlook, published in December 2025, dives deep into the past year’s economic trends across Colorado’s major industries and provides forecasts for population, employment, wages, and sector performance in 2026.
Below is a summary of some takeaways for Colorado’s economy and job market, including which industries are growing or shrinking and some insights on the professional and business services sector (which includes accounting, public accounting, management consulting, and IT consulting, among other areas):
- The Colorado job market is poised for modest growth in 2026. Employment is projected to increase by about 17,500 jobs (up from an estimated 12,500 jobs added in 2025), which is a 0.6% increase over 2025.
- Unemployment remains below the national average. In August 2025, Colorado’s unemployment rate was 4.2%. That’s below the 4.5% national average, keeping the Centennial state among the top 10 in labor market health. Unemployment is projected to decrease slightly to 4.1% in 2026.
- Colorado’s economy shows moderate but steady growth. Real GDP grew 2% in 2024 and is projected to grow 2.1% in 2025 and 2.9% in 2026.
- Colorado’s population is projected to grow by 0.6% in 2026 (a net increase of 35,100 people, with 15,700 from net migration and 19,500 from natural increase—or births minus deaths). The labor force is expected to expand modestly, even despite retirements and slower net migration into the state. Personal income and wages are projected to rise 4.5% and 3.6%, respectively.
- Eight industries are likely to add jobs in 2026. The report shared that out of Colorado’s 11 major industries tracked, eight are expected to grow in 2026. Leading sectors include Education and Health Services; Trade, Transportation, and Utilities; and Government. The other five industries projected to grow are Financial Activities; Natural Resources and Mining; Manufacturing; Construction; and Other Services.
- Colorado’s workforce is aging, with retirements shaping job openings. The state’s 65+ population is growing fastest, driving about 40,000 retirements per year. This creates turnover across industries, including Professional and Business Services, which could open opportunities for accounting and consulting roles as experienced workers exit. Younger adult cohorts continue to grow more slowly, affecting the overall availability of new workers.
Professional and Business Services: What to Know
The Professional and Business Services sector includes public accounting, management consulting, IT consulting, and other professional services. Since 2010, this sector has posted employment gains every year until 2024, when it experienced about 3,000 job losses. For 2025, the report estimated 5,800 job losses (-1.2%), noting that federal research funding and tech-sector restructuring contributed.
For 2026, Professional and Business Services is projected to level, with a very slight decrease of 1,100 jobs (-0.2%). Most of these declines are in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services subsector.
Professional and Business Services is made up of three sub-sectors:
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services – The largest subsector, including public accounting, accounting consulting, IT consulting, and other specialized professional services.
- Management of Companies and Enterprises – This includes internal corporate management roles. Employment here has remained relatively stable and is expected to see modest gains.
- Administrative and Support Services – This covers staffing, facilities, and other business support functions.
Job Searching? Hiring? Contact Our Colorado Accounting Recruiting & Contract Solutions Team
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