As the coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the economy, unemployment is rising in many sectors. According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), 67,334 people filed initial unemployment claims—processed applications that have been reported to the federal government—between April 12 and April 18. This brings the state’s number of claims to nearly 299,000 from March 15 to April 18. “We continue to believe that is the most reliable data set that is an indicator of where our economy is and where it’s going,” says CDLE spokeswoman Cher Haavind.

The sobering reality is that every week, more Coloradans are being furloughed or laid off. But the same isn’t true across all industries. Here is a short, non-comprehensive list of the places in Colorado hiring now.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores have modified their hours, and many have announced nationwide hiring initiatives.

King Soopers’ parent brand, Kroger, is hiring 20,000 people, according to a news release in late March. According to the company’s website, there are nearly 500 open positions in Colorado.

Walmart is hiring for 150,000 positions nationwide, with 616 jobs in Colorado. Job titles include hourly supervisors, cashiers, cart attendants, fresh food associates, stockers, and receiving associates. The company is also hiring auto, pharmacy, and optical technicians, as well as freight handlers and maintenance technicians. Positions shown on Walmart’s website also include openings at Sam’s Clubs and online men’s retailer Bonobos.

Safeway’s parent company, Albertsons Companies, is also hiring. According to the company’s website, there are 70 open positions in the state, including store clerks and pharmacists.

Parcel and Mail Delivery

Delivery drivers and processing clerks for packages and mail deliveries are also needed across the state. FedEx is hiring full-time and part-time operations admins, operations supervisors, and package handlers at the company’s warehouses. The United States Postal Service is also hiring carriers and processing clerks in Colorado.

Amazon is hiring for 75,000 jobs nationwide, according to the company’s website, including five in Colorado as warehouse team members or shopper team members.

Hardware Stores

Hardware stores are deemed essential businesses. The Home Depot is currently hiring for 516 positions across the state.  Ace Hardware plans to hire more than 30,000 people nationally, with approximately 120 positions currently open in Colorado. Hardware brand Lowe’s is hiring for 240 positions in Colorado, and Tractor Supply Co. is hiring for 25 positions.

Health Care Industry

Denver-based DaVita is hiring at least 15,000 new employees throughout the year. The company is currently looking for 76 employees based in Colorado. UCHealth is also hiring for 31 positions across the state. These roles include nurses, clinical social workers, and psychologists.

Pharmacy chains such as CVS Health and Walgreens are also hiring nearly 240 people in Colorado. In addition to pharmacy technicians and pharmacists, CVS Health is looking for retail store associates and shift supervisors, and Walgreens is hiring assistant store managers and customer service associates.

Food Delivery

Many pizza franchises are hiring delivery drivers, managers, and other team members. Nationally, Pizza Hut is hiring for more than 30,000 positions. Papa John’s is also hiring nationwide with 73 open positions in Colorado. SYNQ3 Restaurant Solutions, a Colorado Springs-based software company that helps restaurants process take-out orders, is looking to fill seven positions. Of course, food delivery services like GrubHub, Postmates, DoorDash, and UberEats are always hiring.

Other Industries

Several other industries in the state are also hiring for a variety of roles. Financial services company Allied Universal is hiring nearly 80 people in Colorado. Denver-based Brannan Sand and Gravel is hiring equipment operators, technicians, and more in Denver, Sedalia, Fort Lupton, and Fairplay.

Louisville-based AMP Robotics recently added another manufacturing facility to increase production of its robotic systems and has doubled the size of its engineering innovation lab—all in the name of creating more sustainable recycling solutions. The company is currently hiring for about a dozen roles across departments.

Locally, the State of Colorado is looking to fill 338 positions, including temporary registered nurses and temporary mental health clinicians. Nonprofit Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is also hiring for both full-time and temporary positions.

Did we miss a company currently hiring in Colorado? Let us know by emailing digital@5280.com. 

Update, 5/4/20: This article has been updated to include more companies that are hiring now.