In the past few months, seven Regional Talent Summits convened across the state to bring together employers, policymakers, education providers, and workforce leaders on the issue of workforce shortages in Colorado.
Established by House Bill 24-1365 and hosted by the Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) and local business, this state-wide initiative aimed to build a shared understanding of workforce challenges, identify solutions, and develop tactical workforce plans tailored to regional economic needs.
Shared Challenges Across the State
Several key themes emerged across the seven regional summits:
- Significant talent shortages in key industries such as advanced manufacturing, construction, healthcare, education, agriculture, tech, and aerospace
- Strong demand for aligned, work-based training and faster, more flexible credentialing pathways
- A call for better storytelling to elevate the value and viability of construction and skilled trades careers
- Persistent barriers to recruitment and retention, including affordable housing, transportation, and regulatory barriers
While these challenges are shared across the state, the action plans that will be submitted will focus on industry-led, locally executed solutions. These regional summits made clear that the public sector can’t solve the workforce challenge alone. Employers bring the insight and urgency needed to design real-world solutions, and the next steps emerging from these summits are designed to align that leadership and make it more impactful.
What’s Next
The Regional Talent Summits are over, but our partners at Colorado Workforce Development Council are gearing up to put the Summit findings into action. Each region is currently developing a roadmap with 2- and 5-year plans to address training programs, shared infrastructure, policy barriers, and funding opportunities. These plans will be submitted to OEDIT by December 1, 2025.
Regional Action Teams, selected by local workforce boards, will be responsible for implementing the plans, gathering stakeholder input, and reporting progress through 2030. While only a small group formally serves on each team, employers will continue to be engaged as key stakeholders throughout the process. The Colorado Workforce Development Council will track and evaluate progress and provide technical assistance.
The Regional Talent Summits and the ensuing action plans are part of a broad state-wide effort to empower employers to lead in building workforce talent solutions. This is about building a talent system that works—for businesses, learners, and Colorado’s economy.
Read more on the OEDIT website.
Local Priorities, Shared Momentum
Employers elevated specific regional priorities across the seven summits. Here’s a look at what surfaced in each community.
Northeast Region – Focus on advanced manufacturing, construction, and health care
Employers emphasized the need for:
- Stronger K-12 exposure to career pathways, such as introducing hands-on experiences and job shadowing earlier in schools
- Clarity on what postsecondary training programs are available and reduced duplication across institutions
- Affordable housing options to address a significant barrier to recruiting and retaining entry-level and skilled workers
Denver Region – Focus on advanced manufacturing, aerospace/defense, and renewables/clean energy
Employer-proposed solutions:
- Launching security-clearance training programs to help graduates access high-paying jobs in aerospace and defense
- Developing a regional cybersecurity training hub
- Aligning education with industry growth areas, particularly in clean energy and advanced manufacturing
Southern Region – Focus on advanced manufacturing, construction, and technology
Employers identified the need for:
- Rebranding the trades with more compelling storytelling and transparent salary data
- Providing wraparound supports such as transportation and flexible scheduling to boost training participation
- Expanding dual enrollment and work-based learning opportunities with local business
Western Region – Focus on construction, early childhood education, and health care
Employers called for:
- Shared training infrastructure, such as mobile labs or regional hubs, to better serve multiple communities
- Simplified licensing and credentialing processes to accelerate onboarding (especially in healthcare and education)
- Addressing the issue of high living costs and low wages that deter people from entering or staying in the workforce
South Central Region – Focus on agriculture, health care, and technology
Challenges identified were:
- Limited transportation and broadband access hinder training and employment opportunities
- A lack of regionally tailored training models, specifically for ag-tech and cross-sector skill development
- Silos between education, workforce, and employers in rural communities
Northwest Region – Focus on construction, health care, and tourism
Employers emphasized the need for:
- Expanding affordable housing
- Creating transferable credentials across school districts and industries
- Scaling successful regional training models in early childhood education and healthcare to other fields
Pikes Peak Region – Focus on advanced manufacturing, aerospace/defense, and technology
Employer-identified solutions:
- Regional coordination to simplify and make accessible the security clearance process
- Increase access to work-based learning opportunities, internships, and industry-aligned credentials
- Build a more cohesive regional talent ecosystem to align business, K-12, and workforce centers
Links to the Summit Outcomes Reports can be found here.
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