DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced a new survey for Coloradans to provide input on the future of Colorado’s workforce and economy. This survey builds on the Executive Order Governor Polis signed in May that directs Colorado’s state agencies to work together with the Department of Education to develop recommendations to improve connections between education and training so more Coloradans can connect with the skills needed for good-paying jobs while ensuring businesses have the talent they need. This survey will help inform those recommendations, which are due to the Governor on December 1.
“Colorado’s workforce is the heartbeat of our economy, and we are committed to continuing to ensure people can access the resources and training needed to get the jobs they want. Whether you want to get a four-year degree, pursue an apprenticeship, get a certificate through a community or technical college or find on-the-job training, we want to ensure there is a path for you to succeed in Colorado. This survey is about taking that next step to hear from Coloradans directly about the opportunities they want to see in our state,” said Governor Jared Polis.
The survey allows Coloradans to share opinions on resources that help them build skills and find work, what kinds of resources would be most helpful, and what they hope for the future of Colorado’s talent development system. The survey is open through November 7.
Under Governor Polis’ leadership, Colorado has championed education and workforce training opportunities that give Coloradans a number of different options to pursue good-paying jobs and build careers. This includes initiatives like Care Forward Colorado and Career Advance Colorado, which trained tens of thousands of Coloradans in health care, and other in-demand jobs like construction, law enforcement, early childhood education, and more. Colorado also launched Opportunity Now, an effort that funds regional partnerships between educational institutions, industry leaders, and employers focused on meeting the workforce needs of Colorado’s most in-demand industries. The top sectors served include healthcare, education and infrastructure and construction, all prioritized by HB22-1350, which established the program and was sponsored by House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Rep. Janice Rich, and Sens. Jeff Bridges and Paul Lundeen. The Opportunity Now Colorado grant program has awarded $89.5 million to 96 regional partnerships that will help 20,000 Coloradans, more than 8,200 of whom have already secured jobs to date, and support Colorado’s workforce needs in high demand, good paying jobs.
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