NEW REPORT: State of Working Colorado 2008

COFPI released its State of Working Colorado 2008 report today, which includes data on employment, wages and income, poverty, insurance, and other economic indicators.

This year’s report examines how Colorado workers fared over the last business cycle, from 2000 to 2007. In the broader context, the news is not good. Low- and middle-income workers ended 2007 in worse shape than they were in prior to the 2001 recession. In the short-term context, the news is no less troubling: unemployment and poverty are on the rise, fewer families have health insurance, and wages and income levels are stagnating or declining.

“The bottom line is that the last expansion left many Colorado families worse off than they were eight years ago,” said Kathy White, Program Director of COFPI. “All of the data points to serious challenges for working Coloradans now and into the future, unless bold steps are taken by state leaders.”

Basically, the economic recovery that ended in 2007 left many Coloradans worse off than in 2000. Which is not good, considering we're heading into a serious economic downturn.

Here's the link to the press release and to the full report.