The annual Colorado Talent Pipeline Report identifies areas of growing demand and opportunity, key features of the current labor force, and strategies to balance the supply and demand equation for talent. It also highlights the Top Jobs in Colorado -- jobs with high annual openings, above average growth, and a good wage.
In accordance with 24-46.3-103 C.R.S. as amended by SB14-205, the CWDC presents the Colorado Talent Pipeline Report in partnership with the Department of Higher Education, the Department of Education, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, with support from the Office of State Planning and Budgeting, the State Demography Office at the Department of Local Affairs, and other partners.
2022 Talent Pipeline Report
The CWDC released the 2022 Talent Pipeline Report on Dec. 13, 2022. This ninth iteration of the Talent Pipeline Report analyzes and explains labor market information, highlights talent development strategies, and provides data-informed opportunities to enhance the talent pipeline in Colorado.
The Talent Pipeline Report provides data and strategies to inform the development of legislation and policies as well as the implementation of existing work. The data show that Colorado’s workforce continues to be a strength. Opportunities exist now for Coloradans to move into good jobs, and our continued focus on the talent pipeline will ensure that equity is increased statewide and that Colorado works for all.
Additional progress was made through the passage of bills in the 2022 Legislative Session to enhance the connections between our state’s education and workforce system. Bold ideas are being developed by local and state experts that can modernize our approaches to skill development and ensure those efforts are responsive to the needs of industry.
Opportunities moving forward build upon previous legislation, policies, and programs. These approaches are levers in our continued work to enhance our talent development system to meet the needs of businesses, job seekers, workers, and learners to support a Colorado for all.
2022 Opportunities for Continued Action
Enhance opportunities for employers to promote job quality and connect with historically excluded talent to expand access to skilled talent and connect Coloradans with quality jobs.
- Incorporate quality metrics and equity impact assessments into procurement processes for publicly-funded projects.
- Focus programming on and increase availability of resources to underutilized talent pools, such as opportunities for postsecondary credentials, work-based learning, and subsidized employment. Populations to support include justice-involved individuals, New Americans, people of color, rural communities, individuals with disabilities, and older workers.
Strengthen the state’s data infrastructure to better identify longitudinal outcomes of policies and programs, which will help inform decision makers about evidence-based practices and effective methods to close equity gaps.
- Connected data across the postsecondary and workforce landscape are vital to the calculation of new measures of success. Develop a statewide longitudinal data system that allows for more disaggregated data between different kinds of postsecondary credentials.
- As these recommendations around measures of postsecondary and workforce success continue to be developed, work to ensure that 1) data are shared in well-governed, responsible ways across state agencies building on successful efforts such as the Linked Information Network of Colorado (LINC) and the Colorado Data Trust, 2) work is building on already existing data infrastructure, such as that developed in relation to adult education, and 3) the recommendations from HB21-1330 and HB22-1349 are implemented.
Continue current efforts to develop an ecosystem to empower learners/earners to have agency and ownership of their data on their education and employment journeys through digital learner and employment records.
- Build upon existing offerings supported by state agencies, such as myColorado and My Colorado Journey. The data in this ecosystem are owned by the learner and validated by various stakeholders across education, training, workforce, and industry to demonstrate proof of learning and skills development over the course of an individual’s education and career.
Strengthen critical industries so all businesses can thrive.
- Fund sector-specific initiatives to develop regional solutions for talent shortages that will create sustainable solutions beyond stimulus funding.
- Update, align, and promote existing strategic statewide talent plans for education, early childhood education, and direct-care sectors and develop plans for new areas such as infrastructure and homebuilding.
Increase the availability of connected learning opportunities to smooth the transition from secondary
education to the workforce.
- Implement the recommendations of the HB22-1215 Task Force to create a statewide, comprehensive system for secondary education, postsecondary education, and work-based learning.
- Support the continuation of apprenticeship efforts, including CO-HELPS and CO-TECH.
- Develop funding mechanisms to support the development and continuation of a work-based learning ecosystem that allows employers and partners to communicate effectively at the local level, including continuation of the stimulus-funded Rural Coaction Grants.
Past Reports
- 2021 Talent Pipeline Report
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2021 Report
2021 Talent Pipeline Report - Overview
2021 AppendicesAppendix A: Colorado Top Jobs
Appendix B: Colorado Top Jobs by Region
Appendix C: 2020-2021 Career Pathways Annual Report – HB 15-1274
Appendix D: 2021 Sector Strategies Update
Appendix E: WORK Act Annual Report: FY 2020-2021
Appendix F: PY20 WIOA Annual Report
Appendix G: Talent Pipeline Policy Success
Appendix H: Career Development Incentive Program (CDIP) List of Approved Programs – HB 16-1289
Appendix I: HB 15-1170 PWR Coordinator Update 2021
Appendix J: Glossary of Equity Terms
Appendix K: Colorado Job Demand Visualization
- 2020 Talent Pipeline Report
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2020 Report
2020 Talent Pipeline Report - Overview
2020 AppendicesAppendix A: Talent Pipeline Policy Success
Appendix B: Colorado Top Jobs
Appendix C: Colorado Top Jobs by Region
Appendix D: 2020 Sector Strategies Update
Appendix E: HB 15-1170 PWR Coordinator Update
Appendix F: WORK Act Annual Report: FY 2019-2020
Appendix G: Career Development Incentive Program (CDIP) List of Approved Programs – HB 16-1289
Appendix H: 2019-2020 Career Pathways Annual Report – HB 15-1274
Appendix I: Innovative Industries Internship Program Annual Report: FY 2019-2020
Appendix J: PY19 WIOA Annual Report
Appendix K: Colorado Job Demand Visualization
- 2019 Talent Pipeline Report
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2019 Report
2019 Talent Pipeline Report - Print Version
2019 Talent Pipeline Report - Web Version
2019 Talent Pipeline Report - Overview
2019 Appendices
Appendix A: Talent Pipeline Policy Success
Appendix B: Colorado Top Jobs
Appendix C: Colorado Top Jobs by Region
Appendix D: 2019 Sector Strategies Update
Appendix E: HB 15-1170 PWR Coordinator Update
Appendix F: Annual Report on Concurrent Enrollment: 2017-2018 Academic Year
Appendix G: Career Development Incentive Program (CDIP) List of Approved Programs – HB 16-1289/HB 18-1266
Appendix H: Education Industry Career Pathways FY19 – HB 15-1274
Appendix I: Innovative Industries Internship Program Annual Report: FY 2018-2019
Appendix J: HB 1288 Industry Infrastructure Grant CareerWise Annual Report: 2018-2019
Appendix K: WORK Act Annual Report: FY 2018-2019
Appendix L: PY18 WIOA Annual Report
Appendix M: Colorado Rises: Transforming Educational Practices through Open Educational ResourcesReport on Income Share Agreements
CWDC Task Force Recommendations on Affordable Housing - 2018 Talent Pipeline Report
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2018 Report
2018 Talent Pipeline Report - Print Version
2018 Talent Pipeline Report - Web Version
2018 Talent Pipeline Report - Overview
2018 Appendices
Appendix A - 2018 Colorado Top Jobs
Appendix B - 2018 Colorado Top Jobs by Region
Appendix C - Talent Pipeline Policy Success
Appendix D - Cyber and Business Operations Career Pathways - HB 15-1274
Appendix E - 2018 Sector Strategies Update
Appendix F - PY17 WIOA Annual Report
Appendix G - WORK Act Annual Report
Appendix H - Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Coordinator Update - HB 15-1170
Appendix I - Industry Infrastructure Grant Report - HB 16-1288 - CRS 24-46.3-103
Appendix K - Innovative Industries Internship Program - HB 15-1230
- 2017 Talent Pipeline Report
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2017 Report
2017 Talent Pipeline Report - Web Version
2017 Talent Pipeline Report - Overview
2017 Appendices
Appendix A1 - Top Jobs - Tier 1 by Occupation Cluster
Appendix A2 - Top Jobs - Tier 2 by Occupation Cluster
Appendix B1 - Top Jobs - Tier 1 by Education
Appendix B2 - Top Jobs - Tier 2 by Education
Appendix C - Top Jobs by Region
Appendix D - All Top Jobs Spreadsheet
Appendix E - Changes in Top Jobs from Last Year to this Year
Appendix F - Follow-up Activities from 2016 Recommendations
Appendix G - 2017 Sector Partnership Impact Survey
Appendix H - The Role of Gender Equity in Mobilizing Colorado’s Untapped Talent
Appendix J - Annual Reports on Recent State Legislation
- Appendix J1 - 15-1274 Annual Report 2017 (Healthcare and Construction)
- Appendix J2 - 15-1274 Annual Report 2016 (IT)
- Appendix J3 - 15-1230 Innovative Industries Internship Program
- Appendix J4 - 16-1289 List of approved industry-recognized credentials
- Appendix J5 - 16-1288 Industry Infrastructure Grant
Appendix K - PY16 WIOA Annual Report
Appendix L - Employment First Advisory Partnership Strategic Plan
- Appendix J1 - 15-1274 Annual Report 2017 (Healthcare and Construction)
- 2016 Talent Pipeline Report
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2016 Report
2016 Appendices
Appendix A - Top Jobs - Tier 1 by Occupation Cluster
Appendix A - Top Jobs - Tier 2 by Occupation Cluster
Appendix B - Top Jobs - Tier 1 by Education
Appendix B - Top Jobs - Tier 2 by Education
Appendix C - All Top Jobs Spreadsheet
Appendix D - Changes in Top Jobs from Last Year to this Year
Appendix E - HB 15-1170 PWR Coordinator Update
Appendix G - HB 16-1289 Career Development Success Pilot Program
Appendix H - Additional Information Regarding Specific Collaborators
- 2015 Talent Pipeline Report
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2015 Report
- 2014 Talent Pipeline Report
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2014 Report
2014 Colorado Talent Pipeline Report (released January 2015)