{This post was updated Fall 2018}
There is good news for those who are planning to move to Colorado! According to a 2016 report by Forbes, of the cities which rank highest for business and careers, Denver was #1. Moreover, Colorado Springs ranked an impressive #12. This report is very exciting in the light of the recent recession and several years of natural disasters which impacted our community in every way. If you were wondering if there are opportunities for work in the Colorado Springs region, this is an encouraging reminder that Colorado Springs is thriving, strong, and open for business!
Related Reading: Tips for Finding a Job in a New City
COLORADO SPRINGS BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
It is well-known that Colorado Springs is the best big “small-town” there is. Although we may have a population just over 400,000 (with another 300,000 in the surrounding communities), the friendly and laid-back nature of our community gives it a much smaller feel. With the city snuggled up to the mountains and plenty of wide open spaces around, you might think there is not much to offer here in the way of careers or business opportunities. In reality, Colorado Springs has plenty to offer. We are home to the International Olympic Committee and Training Center, five military installations, more than 30 Fortune 500 companies like Verizon and Lockheed Martin, and hundreds of locally-owned establishments. Not to mention our resort destinations such as The Broadmoor Hotel and Great Wolf Lodge who both employ hundreds of staff members.
The top industries in our area include: tourism, aerospace & defense, technology, cybersecurity, IT, medical, manufacturing, sports, military, and education. See below for a list of top employers and their contact information.
Related Reading: Is the Cost of Living in Colorado Springs High?
SMALL BUSINESS IN COLORADO SPRINGS
Looking to start your own business or move one? Colorado Springs is small business friendly! With a robust and tight-knit community of entrepreneurs, there are endless opportunities to plant and grow your business. Breweries, boutiques, coffee roasters, services of every kind – we are a community who is proud to Shop and Support Local. Start by getting connected with other business owners through the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center and the Regional Business Alliance (now known as the Chamber and EDC). Equally important is networking with like-minded business owners. 1 Million Cups is a dynamite association and networking group. All three of these organizations are terrific avenues to make reliable connections in the community and find the resources you need to begin your dream.
WHERE TO START TO FIND A JOB
Colorado Springs business and career opportunities are everywhere. If you are looking for an industry specific position, we have included the top employers and their contact information below for you. Also, we highly recommend starting with www.ConnectingColorado.com. Create an account and upload your resume. Once you have completed that step, you will have access to thousands of jobs across the state, and specifically within the Colorado Springs metro area. In addition, it is the first point of contact required for the Pikes Peak Workforce Center which is another valuable resource for job seekers. The workforce center hosts job fairs, hiring events, and workshops. Furthermore, they provide assistance in career planning, financial coaching, job seeking, and serving persons with disabilities.
CONTACT INFO FOR TOP EMPLOYERS
While this list certainly is not complete, we have compiled the information of some of the most popular and largest employers in our city, with links and contact information. (This is an excellent post to keep handy for yourself or anyone you may know looking for work):
AEROSPACE/AVIATION
- Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Colorado Springs Airport (A link to all the employers at the airport)
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY / CYBERSECURITY
HOSPITALITY/TOURISM
- The Broadmoor Hotel
- Great Wolf Lodge
- Event Network (Garden of the Gods)
FINANCIAL
- United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
- Progressive Insurance Company
- Wells Fargo
- T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
GENERAL
- Alorica (customer service)
- Colomex, Inc. / Taco Bell (food services)
- Xerox (Business Support) Note: as of 1/1/2017 Xerox is now Conduent.
- Time Warner (Cable Communications/Customer Service–Now under parent company Spectrum)
GOVERNMENT
- City of Colorado Springs
- Colorado Springs Utilities (Power/Water/Waste Water)
- El Paso County
- State of Colorado (Colorado Springs)
NON-PROFIT / RELIGIOUS
HEALTHCARE
- Penrose-St. Francis/Centura Health Healthcare
- Memorial Hospital-UCHealth Healthcare
- DePuy Synthes Companies of Johnson & Johnson (Medical Innovation)
- DaVita Medical Group
- Colorado Childrens Hospital
TECHNOLOGY
EDUCATION
- Colorado College
- Pikes Peak Community College
- Harrison School District #2
- Widefield School District #3
- Fountain-Ft. Carson School District #8
- School District #11
- Cheyenne Mountain School District #12
- Academy School District #20
- School District #49
- The United States Air Force Academy (civilian jobs)
- University of Colorado Colorado Springs
MANUFACTURING
MILITARY / GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
- Northrop Grumman (marketing for government contracts)
- Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station
- Fort Carson
- Peterson Air Force Base
- Schriever Air Force Base
- The United States Air Force Academy
If you are looking for a federal government job, here is information about how to apply. You’ll need to apply online: https://www.usajobs.
Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado are growing and booming in every industry at this time. With this in mind, we are so glad you are considering joining our community and sincerely hope this information is helpful in your relocation and job-hunting efforts. Similarly, if you are a current resident and looking for a change in jobs or opportunities, I am certain these resources will prove quite beneficial. I checked each company listed and hundreds of positions are available. Even if you think it might be an industry that you do not have the skills for, I encourage you to browse their job openings, make sure you take a look at Indeed! These companies have both specialized jobs as well as general positions available.
Good luck with your job hunting and if you need assistance in your house hunting – give me a call!
719-321-0800 or shoot me an email at susanna@co-regroup.com
Relocating to Colorado Springs and wondering where to live? Start your research with our free Colorado Springs Neighborhood Guide:
