Top Three September Colorado Rankings

The Denver Broncos aren’t the only ones scoring big this season. Colorado is also on a winning streak with top rankings posted in September. Metro Denver and Colorado scored high for labor supply, economic climate, growth, education, and quality of life.

We couldn’t be more proud of the region’s ongoing winning performance and look forward to more impressive rankings in October. Stay tuned!

Here are the top-three rankings from September that have kicked off the fall season on a high note:

1. Forbes ranked Colorado fifth on its 2013 “Best States for Business and Carriers” list. Of the six areas, Colorado ranked first for labor supply, fourth for growth prospects, and ninth for quality of life. It’s no surprise that labor supply was ranked first – Colorado’s unemployment rate dropped to 7 percent, a whole percentage point in the past 12 months. For the first half of 2013, Colorado’s robust economy added jobs at a pace more than double that of the nation.
2. Three Colorado universities placed in U.S News & World Report’s annual ranking of the top national universities. The University of Colorado – Boulder ranked 86^th as the top-ranked in the state. CU-Boulder is also the only university in the Rocky Mountain region to make it into an elite group of 34 research universities called the Association of American Universities. The Colorado School of Mines and the University of Denver also made the list, tying at No. 91. For students interested in contributing to Metro Denver’s strong science scene, the Colorado School of Mines has an abundance of academic departments ranging from hydrologic science, engineering, and geophysics.  The University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business is globally recognized for providing an immersive and engaged business education. Colorado State University ranked 121^st, recognized as a leading research university with a renowned College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
3. A poll that surveyed 2,286 adults conducted by Harris Interactive showed that Colorado was the fifth most-desired state to live in. Among top cities, Denver was ranked the seventh most-desired city to live in.  Metro Denver’s office real estate market and vacancy rate of 13.5 percent, the lowest since Q3 2008, have helped boost the region as it continues to grow. An article in Forbes magazine, predicts that the Inland West, which includes Metro Denver, will be the fastest growing region of the country over the next decade. Between 2013 and 2023,Forbes predicts the region will grow by 7 percent.

We couldn’t be more proud of the region’s ongoing winning performance and look forward to more impressive rankings in October. Stay tuned!