Sept. 15, 2020 - September is Workforce Development Month, and this week we’re celebrating Colorado’s workforce ecosystem with the theme “Workforce Services.” This theme was selected to highlight how the public workforce system can help employers and job seekers rebound from the COVID-19 crisis. Hear from CWDC Managing Director Lee Wheeler-Berliner about the value of Colorado’s workforce system as well his recent conversation with local workforce directors on the Colorado Business Roundtable podcast.
By Lee Wheeler-Berliner, CWDC Managing Director
Workforce Development Month -- now in its 17th year -- is an annual showcase of the resources available for Coloradans from workforce centers across the state. It is also an opportunity to celebrate our workforce professionals and partners and highlight the important work they carry out statewide to support Colorado workers, job seekers, and employers.
Many Coloradans are not aware of what our public workforce system does, and September provides a great opportunity to share its impact. As we think about the last program year for the state, more than 300,000 job seekers and 9,000 businesses utilized the public workforce system, accessing services to connect with employment and training opportunities, discover skilled talent, and more. With the data that is maintained, we’re also able to calculate the economic impact that the workforce system has on the state of Colorado. In 2018, $453,333,190 in wages were returned to the economy. This means that as a whole, Coloradans earned more than $450 million in wages after contact with the workforce system.
Throughout the pandemic, workforce centers have continued to provide this crucial support to businesses and job seekers, and will play a key role in Colorado’s economic recovery efforts moving forward. Last week on the Colorado Business Roundtable podcast, I sat down with Erin Jones and Curtis Englehart, the local workforce directors for Boulder and Mesa counties, respectively, to talk about workforce services and how the workforce system is supporting Coloradans during the pandemic. We discuss the key services provided to businesses and job seekers, how service has shifted during the COVID-19 crisis, and how individuals and businesses can connect with their local workforce center during Workforce Development Month and beyond. Plus, we offer a preview of the upcoming Colorado Talent Equity Agenda. Listen to the conversation.
Thank you to the Colorado Business Roundtable for hosting the discussion, and thank you to all our workforce professionals across the state for the critical services you provide to support a strong workforce and a strong Colorado.
Get Involved During Workforce Development Month
Please share your events and success stories for promotion throughout September. You can also follow the CWDC on Twitter and LinkedIn and CDLE on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook for information on events, initiatives, and success stories during the month.