Building Equitable Pathways Through Employer Talent Collaboratives
According to the recent Education to Employment Alliance report, nearly half (49%) of jobs in Colorado require skills training beyond a high school diploma but not a four-year degree. However, too few Coloradans of working age—only 15%—have middle-skill credentials, creating a vast opportunity divide.
In Jefferson County (Jeffco), this crippling skills gap is felt across construction and other skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, health care, and information technology, where the worker shortage is acute.
To strategically address these gaps, well-designed stackable pathways provide modular bridges that link incrementally into higher-level degrees and credentials.
What are Stackable Credential Pathways?
Credentials that purposefully stack into other credentials, forming a credentialing pathway. These credentials can be non-credit, certificates, skills badges, licenses, certifications, degrees, and other types.
Created in partnership with the Colorado Gives Foundation, Arvada Chamber of Commerce, and Jefferson County EDC, Colorado Succeeds has developed a five-step blueprint for identifying, creating, and sustaining stackable pathways specific to Jeffco opportunity seekers.
The steps leverage deep employer engagement, leading to long-term partnerships with local training providers and offering clear, accessible on-ramps to high-quality jobs and economic mobility.
This Stackable Pathways Blueprint is an implementation guide designed for workforce intermediaries and employers to close the opportunity gap for Jeffco adult learners. Jeffco stakeholders are primed to execute this blueprint process, empowering learners, employers, training providers, school districts, public agencies, and community partners to close opportunity gaps—by creating clear and accessible credential pathways for adult learners.