Jefferson County has an extremely talented and highly-educated workforce who enjoy the benefits of Metro Denver and the great outdoors from the foothills in the county and the Rockies just beyond.
The companies that call Jeffco home take full advantage of the workforce development institutions and programs within the county. The Jefferson County Business and Workforce Center provides training for job seekers and helps match employers with candidates.
of people are a high school graduate or higher
of people hold a Bachelor's degree or higher
architectural, engineering, and related services payroll
scientific research total income
High school graduation rate in JeffCo
Labor force
Labor force – 347,923
Total employed – 336,790
Unemployment rate – 3.2%
The college’s core curriculum is ranked in the top 2% of colleges nation wide. CCU offers more than 200 academic program options in a variety of disciplines for traditional and adult students. The College of Undergraduate Studies is home to more than 1,500 traditional undergraduate students, the majority residing on campus. CCU also offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs to over 8,200 adult learners worldwide. More than 90% of adult students complete their degrees online through CCU Online.
Founded in 1874, Mines is a public research university devoted to engineering and applied science. It has the highest admissions standards of any public university in Colorado and among the highest of any public university in the U.S. Mines has distinguished itself by developing a curriculum and research program geared towards responsible stewardship of the earth and its resources. In addition to strong education and research programs in traditional fields of science and engineering, Mines is one of a very few institutions in the world having broad expertise in resource exploration, extraction, production and utilization.
Since its inception in 1965, MSU Denver has educated Coloradans to meet the workforce needs of area businesses. It is a comprehensive, public “four-year” institution granting bachelor’s degrees through its three colleges (Business, Professional Studies, and Letters, Arts and Sciences) as well as the School of Education and School of Hospitality. MSU Denver has provided a high-quality, accessible, relevant education in service to the ever-evolving workforce needs of Colorado and, above all, its students. Profoundly committed to inclusion, MSU Denver serves a complex and diverse set of students. It powers the state economy through its 95,000 graduates, 97% of whom are Colorado residents and more than 80% of whom stay in Colorado after graduation. (The total number of students who began their studies at MSU Denver grows to nearly 300,000.) Not every student graduate in four years, but MSU Denver is transformational for its students and invaluable to Colorado.
RRCC offers more than 300 programs and 650 courses including those that are guaranteed to transfer to Colorado four-year institutions. By Partnering with Warren Tech, the career and technical high school for Jeffco Public Schools, RRCC offers a variety of twoyear degrees and professional certifications. The college is nationally recognized for its leadership in several areas, including the second largest OSHA training center in the country.
As one of the top art and design schools in the nation, RMCAD attracts students from around the country and around the world. RMCAD is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and nationally accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The Interior Design program is accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. RMCAD offers a BFA degree in the following areas: Animation (2D or 3D), Art Education, Illustration, Interior Design, Painting & Drawing, Photography/Video Art, Sculpture and Graphic Design + Interactive Media.
Approximately 9% of all the K-12 students in Colorado attend a Jefferson County school