Challenge #1
Three out of four jobs in Colorado require post-secondary training or education.
Jobs that necessitate additional training beyond high school are experiencing three times more growth than jobs that only require a high school diploma.
Presently, employers in Colorado are struggling to find sufficient workers to fill positions in various high-demand industries.
Employers report that students need additional preparation to succeed in the numerous job opportunities available within the state.
(Colorado Department of Education, 2020, Colorado Workforce Development Council, 2023)
Our Work
Creating and expanding access to work based learning, certification programs, and college credits
In work based learning programs students gain the experience employers are seeking and gain the skills and credentials needed to succeed in the workforce.
Regional work based learning and credentialing programs increase employer connections to a robust talent pipeline tailored to their needs.
Work based learning and credentialing programs focused on regional needs gives young people the option to find high paying jobs where they live, reducing rural “brain drain”.
(CDE, 2023.)
Challenge #2
Rural students lack access to the career connected learning that provides the foundation necessary to access jobs that pay a livable wage.
Rural geography and distance make travel expensive and time consuming and school districts have been hit hard by the teacher shortage.
The poverty rate in rural Colorado is 14.8% as compared to 12.7% in urban Colorado. Many students cannot afford to take on courses or internships that require travel or time away from earning wages at a job.
“Rural schools have faced funding challenges that make it harder for them to provide critical services to students that we know are essential for their education, such as after-school activities, tutoring and so much more,” State Rep. Meghan Lukens
(CDE, 2020, Colorado Rural Education Collaborative, 2023)
Our Work
Increasing equity and access through providing transportation, stipends, and online programming.
Providing stipends to students for work based learning programs ensures that they do not have to sacrifice their education for earning a wage
Providing stipends to teachers for career and tech ed training and certifications increases student access to high quality career connected learning opportunities.
Providing transportation at low and no cost to students removes significant barriers to career exploration events and courses that provide essential credentials
Increasing hybrid and virtual course access through interdistrict sharing of resources reduces the need for expensive and time consuming travel
Challenge #3
Regional employment needs and student interest must be addressed in order to retain a skilled homegrown workforce .
The intersection of student interest and economic need must be considered when designing meaningful career pathway programming that leads to regional workforce retention.
Career pathway programming has been shown to increase student readiness for both the workforce and post secondary education, contributing to their success.
Students who have explored career pathways have a better understanding of their own career interests, enabling them to make informed choices around their post secondary education and training, reducing their costs .
(Colorado Department of Education, 2020,)
Our Work
Expanding and creating career pathways specific to our region
Career pathway systems, designed based on industry requirements and emphasizing competency in education, training, and recruitment, are crucial for addressing challenges faced by education systems and employers.
(Colorado Workforce Development Council, 2023.)
Existing pathway priorities for our region were identified as the existing pathway of Construction and Healthcare.
In addition, a new Outdoor Industry and Tourism Pathway, specific to the West Central region, has been established.
These focus areas were determined based on a combination of workforce data, input from students, and community capacity.
(Colorado Workforce Development Council, 2023.)
Contact for information on how you can be a part of this important work.