Polis to Launch Colorado Competitiveness Council After 6,200 Job Losses in 18 Months
Updated
Updated · The Denver Post · Jul 22
Polis to Launch Colorado Competitiveness Council After 6,200 Job Losses in 18 Months
1 articles · Updated · The Denver Post · Jul 22
Summary
Colorado lost 6,200 payroll jobs over the past 18 months, prompting Gov. Jared Polis to form a competitiveness council and order statewide business listening sessions this week.
OEDIT and the Colorado Economic Development Council will use the convenings to hear why firms are leaving, what rival states offered them, and which indicators show where Colorado still holds an edge.
Rankings have worsened as CNBC dropped Colorado to 25th this year from years in the top 10, citing weak scores on cost of living, cost of doing business and infrastructure.
Business groups and local development officials say regulatory burdens, housing costs, workplace mandates and fading startup activity are eroding the state's ability to retain and attract employers.
The push comes with Colorado still at 3.9% unemployment and ranked No. 6 for economy by U.S. News, suggesting a strong base if policymakers can reverse this decade's slide.