Data Approaches

The Importance of Data & State Partnerships

Data is the backbone of each year’s Talent Pipeline Report and the Colorado Talent Dashboard. The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and the Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE) rely heavily on many sources of data to make the report, and this website, possible.

Graphs on Tablet

Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) Office of Labor Market Information (LMI)

Much of our data is sourced from the Office of Labor Market Information (LMI) housed at the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE). The LMI team works closely with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to provide updates on:

  • Unemployment and employment rates
  • Job loss and job gains
  • Demographic workforce data

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

Much of the data used by LMI comes from the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS, sponsored jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is the primary source of labor force statistics for the population of the United States. This data is the main source for unemployment and employment rates throughout the nation and has been consistently utilized throughout all Colorado Talent Pipeline Reports.

The CPS samples 60,000 eligible households (~110,000 individuals) each month, selected to be representative of the entire population broken into different geographical areas in each state. Part of the sample is changed each month. Each full monthly sample is split into eight different subsamples called rotation groups. Each rotation group is itself a representative sample of the U.S. population. A given rotation group is interviewed for a total of eight months, divided into two equal periods. The group is in the sample for four consecutive months, leaves the sample during the following eight months, and then returns for another four consecutive months.

The sample excludes those living in institutions (e.g., correctional, mental health facilities, etc.) and those in the armed forces. The Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) follows the same procedure as the CPS and is supplemented by the Current Employment Statistics (CES) program, the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program, and unemployment insurance (UI) systems data to measure labor force statistics for state and local areas.

Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) State Demography Office

The annual Talent Pipeline Report and Colorado Talent Dashboard depends on the data that is published by the State Demography Office, housed at the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). All information in the report and website on migration patterns and population statistics comes from our DOLA partners.

Chmura

The 2023 Talent Pipeline Report utilized labor market supply and demand data through the JobsEQ by Chmura software tools. The JobsEQ by Chmura software tools provide data and analysis on demographics, industries, occupations, wages, job postings, and other labor market information.