State
Businesses in Colorado by trade
182,486 employer establishments in 2023, employing 2,566,040 people (+7.4% establishments since 2017).
COLORADO · ALL INDUSTRIES
182,486
establishments with paid employees
- Employees
- 2,566,040
- Average per site
- 14.1
- Change since 2017
- +7.4%
- Annual payroll
- $181.4 billion
The 12 trades in Colorado
| Trade | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 5,074 | 111,442 | +0.8% | 15 |
| Coffee shops and snack bars | 1,757 | 22,692 | +31.4% | 13 |
| Beauty salons | 2,029 | 8,042 | +22.5% | 15 |
| Barber shops | 189 | 1,179 | +61.5% | 13 |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 2,620 | 24,178 | +9.2% | 14 |
| Roofing contractors | 920 | 5,576 | +18.3% | 6 |
| Landscaping services | 2,446 | 17,630 | +8.6% | 17 |
| Janitorial services | 1,571 | 22,606 | +6.8% | 15 |
| Child day care | 1,239 | 16,720 | +8.9% | 22 |
| General auto repair | 1,593 | 8,698 | −0.9% | 21 |
| Fitness centers | 972 | 15,231 | +23.7% | 14 |
| Pet care services | 697 | 5,053 | +24.0% | 14 |
Largest industry groups in Colorado
The twelve three-digit NAICS groups with the most employer establishments.
| Industry group | Sites | Employees | Since 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 28,143 | 243,578 | +6.4% |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | 14,779 | 155,126 | +17.6% |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | 13,937 | 112,229 | +10.9% |
| Food Services and Drinking Places | 13,677 | 254,725 | +10.3% |
| Real Estate | 13,156 | 42,964 | +21.6% |
| Administrative and Support Services | 8,856 | 204,942 | +1.0% |
| Personal and Laundry Services | 6,234 | 33,508 | +27.6% |
| Construction of Buildings | 5,603 | 39,792 | +10.8% |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | 5,454 | 55,094 | +1.4% |
| Repair and Maintenance | 4,564 | 27,815 | +3.2% |
| Insurance Carriers and Related Activities | 4,042 | 56,274 | −3.8% |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | 3,996 | 64,931 | −5.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns (2023; change measured against 2017, 2019 and 2022). Establishments with paid employees only; employment and payroll carry Census noise infusion. Retrieved November 2, 2026. Method and sources.