In May, Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order aimed at fundamentally reshaping Colorado’s approach to workforce development and education. The order directs state agencies across education, labor and economic development to collaborate and break down silos between K-12 schools, postsecondary education and employers to better meet the state’s evolving talent needs.
The order couldn’t come at a more crucial moment. With the most educated population in the United States and an economy that has ranked in the top six in key national metrics for nearly two decades, Colorado has long been a magnet for opportunity-seekers. For years, that economic strength has drawn workers from across the country, with the state peaking at nearly 60,000 new residents in 2015. But that trend is shifting. While job growth remains strong, the number of people moving to Colorado has dropped to less than half of prior levels.
The state can no longer rely on new arrivals to fill its talent needs. The future of Colorado’s economy will depend on how well it can invest in its own people. That will require greater investment in education and training — but not just in the traditional four-year degree. In a state where more than 90% of livable wage jobs require education beyond high school, Colorado needs an “all of the above” approach to postsecondary learning.
Today, despite more than $1.7 billion in taxpayer spending each year on public higher education and workforce training, just 30% of Colorado high school graduates complete any kind of certificate or credential within six years.
While hundreds of state and federally funded workforce training programs exist, only a handful have independently validated results showing better wages and successful job placement. The difficult truth is that the majority of the state’s young people do not have the skills needed to compete for the jobs employers are most desperate to fill.
This reality has demanded a rethinking of how the state connects education to economic opportunity. Education leaders and policymakers are working to reimagine the pathways that lead from high school to a good job, expanding beyond the traditional college track to build a system designed for the real lives and ambitions of today’s learners. Community colleges, apprenticeships, industry-aligned credentials and work-based learning are all equal parts of the equation.
Polis recently highlighted this shift by visiting CrossPurpose, a Denver-based nonprofit that provides tuition-free, career-focused training aligned with the needs of local employers in industries like health care, transportation and skilled trades. Many of its students must overcome significant barriers: poverty, unemployment, limited access to education or involvement with the justice system.
To date, CrossPurpose has trained over 1,200 Denver residents and helped them achieve career-level jobs. Last year, CrossPurpose received $1.86 million in state funding to support professional certifications and pre-apprenticeships that lead to well-paying careers.
It is just one of several community-based programs helping to expand opportunity in the state. Denver’s ActivateWork connects job seekers to high-demand roles in IT. The organization collaborates with local employers to develop customized career pathways while also providing comprehensive support to workers seeking employment. These are the kinds of approaches the new executive order aims to support — connecting individuals from underserved communities to great careers through direct partnerships with employers.
Colorado’s community colleges are also essential to this transformation. The system is partnering with school districts to help students earn industry credentials in high school, collaborating with employers to create short-term, job-aligned programs, and counting competency-based and work-based learning toward graduation.
Polis is also helping lead the way on the national stage. As chair of the National Governors Association, he is spearheading Let’s Get Ready, a nationwide initiative focused on reimagining the connection between education and work. The initiative supports states in aligning postsecondary programs with labor market needs, blurring the line between K-12, postsecondary education, and employers, and investing in data systems that better guide students and workers toward opportunity.
Because this isn’t just a Colorado challenge. States across the country are facing similar pressures. Colorado isn’t just designing its own future; it’s creating a playbook for other states. But these efforts will only succeed with sustained commitment and investment.
As the federal government calls for greater efficiency and the state faces a significant budget shortfall, there is a rare bipartisan opportunity to rethink how education and training are designed and funded. That means shifting the focus toward demonstrable career outcomes. It also means broadening the definition of success to include the full range of high-value, career-connected pathways.
Colorado’s commitment to building multiple, modern routes to economic mobility is quickly becoming a national model. If more Americans are to access meaningful careers, strong wages and long-term stability, Colorado should continue to chart a path forward.
Steve Taylor, of Barboursville, Virginia, is the policy director and senior fellow at Stand Together Trust.
Jason Janz, of Denver, is the CEO and cofounder of the Denver-based nonprofit CrossPurpose.
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