Posted inEconomy

Rural Colorado to benefit from $85 million for workforce development — including nursing resources — amid shortage

Colorado needs thousands more nurses a year to keep up with growing demand amid staffing shortages and retirements in the health care workforce. But a $1.3 million grant to the Colorado State University Pueblo graduate school and nursing program as part of an $85 million state project is intended to keep adequate health care flowing […]

Posted inNews

How a Colorado McDonald’s weathered the Great Resignation with fiesta-themed birthday parties

Tucked in the corner of Longmont, the classic yellow sign seems like any other McDonald’s. The waft of french fries, bustling employees and children running for the playpen. But step inside, and you’ll be greeted with fiesta decorations and birthday cakes.  The so-called Great Resignation took a toll on fast-food restaurants all over Colorado, and […]

Posted inColoradans, COVID, Education, News

Colorado kids are floundering in math, a “crisis” that may add up to trouble for tomorrow’s workforce

Colorado students tumbled further behind in math as the pandemic closed schools and learning went largely virtual, according to a new analysis of this year’s state assessments results. A new report from the Keystone Policy Center, a nonprofit research group, found that math test scores plummeted for many students across the state, falling at an […]

Posted inBusiness, Economy, Equity, Growth, News, Technology

Where have Colorado’s workers gone? Some say: “We’re still here. Hire us!”

THORNTON — Ground zero for what’s happening to Colorado’s labor market may as well be right here, in Amazon’s 2.4 million-square-foot warehouse where employees work alongside orange 320-pound robots.  The mechanical creatures look like massive robotic vacuum cleaners. But instead of lifting dirt, each robot can lift yellow storage pods filled with random products and […]

Posted inBusiness, Economy, Housing, News

Thousands of Coloradans struggling to pay rent asked the state for help. $6.5 million later, phones are still ringing.

As the pandemic began affecting livelihoods last year, Stephanie Maney would sometimes catch a glimpse of her phone number on TV news broadcasts, news stories or communication from the state’s housing division or Gov. Jared Polis’ office.  Sometimes it was 303-864-7852. Other times 303-864-7810. Sometimes both. She was the only person answering calls from Coloradans […]