Colorado
Costilla County
FIPS: 08023
3,571
population
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🔶 FEMA Declarations
Biological
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
At 7.1%, Costilla County's unemployment rate is now the highest in Colorado—nearly double the state average of 3.9%. The county's labor market has deteriorated sharply over the past two months after hitting a low of 6.1% in April, climbing back to 7.1% in June, a 16.4% increase in the jobless rate.
The reversal follows a volatile stretch. Unemployment spiked to 8.7% in January before improving through spring, suggesting the county experiences outsized swings compared to state trends. With a labor force of just 1,232 residents, individual job losses carry outsized impact on the unemployment metric.
Housing values show modest instability as well. Home values peaked at $184,317 in July but dropped to $181,223 in late August, erasing earlier gains and returning to near-six-month lows. The combination of rising joblessness and softening property values suggests mounting economic pressure in this small, rural county.
Story angle: Investigate what sectors are shedding jobs in Costilla County and whether the recent unemployment spike reflects seasonal patterns or structural economic decline.
🔍 Data Signals
View all signals →Costilla County, Colorado has CO's highest unemployment at 7.1%
With an unemployment rate of 7.1%, Costilla County, Colorado leads CO counties — well above the state average of 3.9%. This county has struggled with higher-than-average unemployment compared to its peers.
Costilla County, Colorado unemployment rising again — up 16.4% from its low
After bottoming at 6.1% (2026-04), unemployment in Costilla County, Colorado has risen for 2 straight data releases to 7.1% — a 16.4% increase from its low. This reversal may signal renewed labor market softening.