Metro Job Market Pulse · General Market Conditions · October 2026
General Market Conditions Labor Market Report: Greeley, CO MSA — October 2026
Greeley's jobless rate climbs as job ads, a signal of hiring demand (one ad often covers several openings), keep rising.
Weld County unemployment hit 5.0% in September against Colorado's 4.1%, even as Greeley posted 15.7% quarterly vacancy growth, second-highest in the state.
Free archive edition. Published by WageScape as sent to subscribers; data as of October 2026.
Key indicators
- Weld County unemployment: 5.0% — vs. 4.1% statewide, September 2026
- Greeley vacancy growth: 15.7% — 2nd-highest in CO, Q1 2026, behind Colo. Springs
- Weld County wage growth: 5.3% YoY — to $1,446/week, Q1 2026, above state average
- Colorado labor force participation: 65.2% — lowest since 1979, 62% of leavers aged 55+
Key takeaways
Greeley's jobless rate and hiring-demand signals are rising together.
Weld County unemployment at 5.0% sits well above the state's 4.1%, yet Greeley logged the second-fastest vacancy growth in Colorado last quarter. That combination points to a skills or location mismatch alongside steady business demand, a distinction that matters for how economic development officials pitch the metro to prospective employers.
Wage growth in Weld County is outrunning the state average.
Average weekly wages rose 5.3% year-over-year to $1,446 in Q1 2026, ahead of Colorado's statewide private-sector gain from $39.40 to $40.19 per hour. Manufacturing production and construction labor advertised pay are also up locally, consistent with employers in the county's agricultural and industrial base competing harder for a tightening labor pool.
Statewide labor-force exit is a Greeley problem alongside Denver's.
Colorado's labor force participation rate fell to 65.2% in September, the lowest since 1979, with roughly 62% of leavers aged 55 and older. Weld County's above-average unemployment rate paired with this statewide retirement wave suggests the local labor pool may be shrinking from both ends — fewer entrants and more exits — a trend commerce leaders should track against regional training enrollment.
Office and marketing pay softness contrasts with industrial-sector strength.
Local advertised pay for Marketing Specialist (down significantly) and Business Analyst (down significantly) roles diverges sharply from gains in Manufacturing Production Worker and Construction Laborer pay. The pattern is consistent with Weld County's economic base remaining anchored in production and logistics, with professional services playing a smaller role — a distinction useful for diversification planning.
Median advertised pay by role — Greeley, CO MSA
| Role | 25th percentile | Median advertised pay | 75th percentile | Metro trend | National median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Sales Associate | $31,637 | $33,612 | $37,440 | Stable | $33,340 |
| Retail Cashier | $31,200 | $33,280 | $35,360 | Stable | $31,268 |
| Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate | $35,805 | $41,600 | $43,680 | Stable | $38,480 |
| CDL Truck Driver | $61,360 | $80,261 | $87,300 | Stable | $78,872 |
| Delivery Driver | $33,538 | $35,818 | $37,299 | Significant decline | $34,826 |
| Construction Laborer | $38,474 | $43,680 | $46,800 | Stable | $40,727 |
| Electrician | $62,172 | $73,777 | $78,084 | Moderate increase | $71,835 |
| Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler | $33,171 | $42,696 | $43,680 | Moderate increase | $39,520 |
| Customer Service Representative | $33,241 | $37,757 | $42,640 | Moderate decline | $39,520 |
| Food Service Worker | $32,189 | $36,920 | $41,600 | Moderate decline | $33,764 |
| Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide | $40,913 | $46,118 | $49,920 | Moderate increase | $41,600 |
| Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk | $37,000 | $45,760 | $51,221 | Stable | $44,552 |
| HVAC Technician | $70,170 | $77,928 | $83,200 | Moderate decline | $71,406 |
| Registered Nurse | $83,717 | $97,933 | $106,142 | Moderate increase | $102,252 |
| Software Engineer | $96,265 | $121,511 | $141,201 | Stable | $154,403 |
| Data Engineer * | $99,189 | $142,500 | $158,718 | Stable | $138,000 |
| Accountant | $63,401 | $76,662 | $80,549 | Moderate increase | $72,000 |
| Financial Analyst | $75,320 | $94,457 | $97,283 | Moderate increase | $94,646 |
| HR Generalist/Manager | $63,265 | $81,500 | $90,000 | Moderate increase | $74,477 |
| Marketing Specialist | $48,880 | $48,880 | $53,040 | Significant decline | $62,916 |
| Operations Manager * | $90,000 | $97,189 | $107,901 | Significant increase | $86,294 |
| Elementary/Secondary School Teacher | $41,600 | $59,841 | $66,867 | Stable | $55,908 |
| Account Manager | $56,758 | $78,091 | $83,000 | Stable | $94,009 |
| Warehouse Manager * | $43,753 | $52,000 | $52,211 | Significant decline | $75,000 |
| Business Analyst | $68,336 | $92,291 | $97,500 | Significant decline | $98,302 |
* State-level figure shown where metro postings were too few.
WageScape's median is calibrated to correct for spurious low-value postings (reported as the 60th percentile of raw advertised pay). Download: CSV · JSON
Industry snapshot
| Sector | Median advertised pay | Pay trend | Postings trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | $75,528 | Moderate increase | Significant increase |
| Manufacturing | $70,750 | Significant increase | Significant increase |
| Retail Trade | $36,514 | Stable | Significant increase |
| Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities | $59,841 | Moderate decline | Significant increase |
| Information | $58,947 | Significant increase | Significant increase |
| Financial Activities | $55,000 | Moderate increase | Significant increase |
| Professional & Business Services | $54,912 | Moderate increase | Significant increase |
| Education & Health Services | $52,520 | Moderate increase | Significant increase |
| Leisure & Hospitality | $35,398 | Moderate decline | Significant increase |
| Government | $69,352 | Stable | Significant increase |
Local market conditions
Weld County's unadjusted unemployment rate reached 5.0% in September, nearly a full point above the statewide 4.1% figure, even as Greeley posted the second-highest quarterly vacancy growth in Colorado (15.7%) behind Colorado Springs — a split that points to employers posting demand faster than the local labor pool can absorb it. Weld County average weekly wages rose 5.3% year-over-year to $1,446 in Q1 2026, outpacing the statewide private-sector wage gain, while Colorado's labor force participation rate fell to a record-low 65.2% in September amid retirements and slower migration tied to tighter immigration enforcement.
What it means
Elevated local unemployment alongside strong vacancy growth suggests a mismatch between available labor and the skills or geography employers need, separate from any simple demand shortfall — a dynamic that matters for economic development planners weighing workforce training investment over recruitment incentives. Wage gains outpacing the state average in Weld County, paired with advertised pay increases in manufacturing production work and construction labor locally, indicate the metro's agricultural and manufacturing base is paying a premium to secure workers. Current conditions suggest commerce leaders evaluate whether local training and apprenticeship pipelines, such as those run through Weld County workforce centers, are scaled to the vacancy growth the metro is now seeing.
Looking ahead
Expected: Colorado's October unemployment figure, due November 20 from CDLE, will show whether Weld County's gap with the state (5.0% vs. 4.1% in September) is narrowing or widening. A continued widening would reinforce the case for targeted workforce investment in the county alongside broad regional programs.
Emerging pressure point: Colorado's labor force participation drop to 65.2%, driven substantially by retirements among workers 55 and older, has no sign of reversing. Watch whether Weld County's agricultural and manufacturing employers report filling positions through relocation or regional commuting, since the local labor pool itself is not growing.
Early indicator: Colorado's $6.74 million federal workforce training grant for aerospace, advanced manufacturing and emerging tech, announced in October, has not yet been allocated by region. Whether Weld County workforce centers secure a meaningful share will signal whether state policy is responding to the county's manufacturing-heavy vacancy growth.
Potential inflection point: Colorado Chamber survey data show 67% of businesses believe the state is headed in the wrong direction, and the state fell from 11th to 25th in CNBC's business rankings this year. Local commerce leaders should watch whether that sentiment shows up in Weld County business investment or expansion announcements over the next two months.
Sources
- BizWest / Colorado Department of Labor and Employment — Weld County unadjusted unemployment rate reached 5.0% in September 2026
- Colorado Chamber of Commerce — Greeley posted 15.7% quarterly vacancy growth in Q1 2026, second-highest in Colorado
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Weld County average weekly wages rose 5.3% year-over-year to $1,446 in Q1 2026
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment — Colorado labor force participation rate fell to 65.2% in September, lowest since 1979
- Colorado Department of Labor and Employment — Colorado received $6.74 million federal grant for workforce training in Oct. 2026
- Colorado Chamber of Commerce / CNBC — Colorado fell from 11th to 25th in CNBC business rankings; 67% of businesses see wrong direction
Methodology
Advertised pay from active employer job postings, not survey data. WageScape's median is calibrated to correct for spurious low-value postings: distribution analysis shows roughly the lowest 10% of raw values are erroneous entries, so the reported median is the 60th percentile of raw advertised pay. WageScape observes 98% of U.S. job openings daily.
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