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Governor Polis, Legislative, Education and Workforce Leaders Announce Innovative Vision for Colorado Learners, Jobseekers, & Employers

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New report recommends state agency that streamlines higher education and workforce development under one roof, expanding opportunity for all Coloradans

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis, and legislative, education and workforce leaders from across the state released a new report outlining a robust vision for higher education and workforce development in Colorado. The Governor took action earlier this year by issuing Executive Order 2025-006, Reimagining the Future of Colorado's Postsecondary Talent Development System, which directed state agencies to analyze Colorado's current post-secondary talent system and develop recommendations for positive change.

"To best serve all Coloradans, we are boldly reimagining how our post-secondary education, training, and employment systems are serving Colorado learners, jobseekers, workers, and employers. Colorado is a growing hub of innovation, attracting growing businesses, and fostering emerging sectors. That is why we are taking the necessary steps to grow our economy and ensure every Coloradan has more opportunities," said Governor Polis.

Based on input gathered from leaders in education and workforce, community partners, site visits, surveys, responses to public presentations, research into current efforts in and beyond Colorado over the course of several months, the report recommends an innovative model that brings together and streamlines higher education and workforce development services.

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This includes a State Agency that:
  • Serves as a one-stop shop to resources for Colorado learners, jobseekers, and employers
  • Outlines clear educational pathways, connecting Coloradans to good careers and more opportunities
  • Streamlines support for employers to engage with future employees
  • Strengthens Colorado's workforce and economy

"In Colorado, we've taken bold action to strengthen career pathways and invest in our workforce of the future," said Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon. "From Opportunity Now grants and investments in apprenticeship programs, to capping tuition increases at in-state colleges, we're making it possible for learners to sharpen their skills and secure a good-paying job after graduation. To meet Colorado's diverse and ever-changing workforce needs, we need to think outside the box, which is why we're doubling down on our efforts to reimagine workforce development in our state."

"Colorado students at every level move from classrooms into jobs, yet we've built a system that makes them navigate three different bureaucracies to get there," said Senator Jeff Bridges, D-Arapahoe County. "This report confirms that we need to bring higher education and our workforce programs together under one roof so we can align our investments, incentives, and strategy with the high skill, high wage, in demand jobs that drive our economy. We're building a future where employers can find the talent they need to grow, and workers have a clear, connected path from learning to earning."

By creating a department that integrates higher education and workforce development, Colorado will transform how learners access education and training, how jobseekers find employment, how businesses meet their workforce needs, and how the state measures success.

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Colorado has made a lot of progress during Governor Polis's administration in creating more avenues for Coloradans to succeed, but there is more work ahead. According to the report, approximately 936,000 Coloradans (35% of all workers) earn less than $25 per hour. Over one million Coloradans aged 25 to 64 have only a high school diploma. Half a million started college but did not complete a degree. It is expected that by 2031, 73% of all jobs in Colorado (2,232,000 jobs) will require some postsecondary training beyond high school. Colorado businesses report labor shortages and workforce issues as their top challenge with an insufficient supply of skilled talent impacting their workforce planning. This sentiment is reflected globally, with 63% of employers considering skills gaps to be the most significant impediment to business transformation."

Governor Polis has signed landmark legislation strengthening the pipeline between higher education and workforce. This includes House Bill 21-1330, which focused on alignment between higher education and workforce development, generating crucial work in measuring outcomes, data transparency, innovative grantmaking, and equity-focused solutions.

He also signed House Bill 22-1215, which established the 1215 Task Force to develop recommendations to expand and align work-based learning opportunities for Colorado's secondary and higher education students. This bill also spurred additional legislative efforts to streamline funding for career-connected learning, establish the Statewide Longitudinal Data System, and create new performance measures that recognize workforce readiness.

This report builds upon that work in creating a unified postsecondary talent development system in Colorado that can deliver consistent positive outcomes for learners, jobseekers, workers, and businesses that engage within a single entity.

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