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.
2021 Talent Pipeline Report
The CWDC released the 2021 Talent Pipeline Report on Dec. 17, 2021. This eighth iteration of the Talent Pipeline Report continues to analyze and explain relevant labor market data, highlights pandemic data and recovery strategies, and provides data-informed recommendations to enhance the talent pipeline in Colorado.
View additional materials related to the 2021 Talent Pipeline Report
The talent pipeline in Colorado is comprehensive, and workforce development encompasses all manner of education, upskilling, and support for all current and future workers, regardless of age. An effective talent and workforce development ecosystem must therefore support career-connected education and training for the population now learning in full-time education and for the three million Coloradans currently working throughout the state.
As we move into the 2022 Legislative Session, the following priorities and recommendations can further strengthen the talent pipeline by focusing resources and policy change on all components of the system. Additionally, legislators and local policy makers are encouraged to look at the reports coming from interim committees authorized in the 2021 Legislative Session, such as the Student Success and Workforce Revitalization Task Force, and to consider those priorities alongside the recommendations to guide the implementation of new concepts.
2021 Policy Recommendations
Please note that additional details and action steps for the 2021 Recommendations can be found in the 2021 Talent Pipeline Report and Overview.
Enhance opportunities for employers to implement talent development strategies
Recommendation: Enhance the promotion of the Skill Advance Colorado program and the other skills training/workforce development courses through dedicated staff in all regions of the state.
Recommendation: Increase marketing and outreach to companies to raise awareness and understanding of skills-based hiring and work-based learning opportunities, and provide financial support for these efforts as needed.
Strengthen critical industries so all businesses can thrive
Recommendation: Invest in a tiered and expanded behavioral health workforce that includes paraprofessional staff, including peer specialists and peer navigators.
Recommendation: Implement strategies to expand a diverse early childhood workforce and streamline workforce pathways to ensure that high quality training opportunities articulate into transferable college credits to allow the early childhood workforce to apply experience and training toward further credential and degree attainment.
Structure supports necessary to enhance the participation of targeted populations in the labor force
Recommendation: Build into new policies both a requirement that all new and existing workforce development and existing higher education programs specifically market to, and reach out to, underserved businesses and individuals, and allocate resources necessary to conduct appropriate outreach.
Recommendation: Increase funding for non-degree credentials that business needs through state-based financial aid or another funding source, so that individuals have more access to training that will lead to career advancement.
Recommendation: Prioritize the incorporation of a transferable skills training curriculum into academic institutions at the secondary and postsecondary level to increase the market value of degrees and credentials.
Recommendation: Expand the use of Fair Chance hiring, coupled with skills training in cooperation with the Department of Corrections or nonprofits operating in pre-release and post-release programs, to help ensure the successful integration of our incarcerated population back into their communities.
Past Reports
- 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)