The Great Recession of 2007 wreaked enormous economic damage throughout the nation. Not only were employment losses the greatest since the 1930s but other aspects of labor market activity, such as labor force participation, declined to levels not seen since at least the late 1970s. Many statewide economic indicators have gradually improved over the past few years allowing Colorado's unemployment insurance trust fund to strengthen. Still, while Colorado's economic recovery in recent years has been impressive--sturdy job growth, rapidly falling jobless rates, and a strong housing market fueled by population growth-- some measures of labor force activity have not yet returned to their pre-recession levels.
