Press Release: Colorado Workforce Development Council Releases 12th Annual Talent Pipeline Report

(DENVER) - The Colorado Workforce Development Council within the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment released the annual Colorado Talent Pipeline Report today in partnership with the Colorado Department of Higher Education and other state agencies. The 12th edition provides an analysis of critical factors shaping the demand for and supply of talent in Colorado.

"Strong data and analysis of the factors impacting Colorado's talent pipeline are critical to informing how we best support job seekers, students, workers and businesses, " said Managing Director Lee Wheeler-Berliner, Colorado Workforce Development Council. "The Talent Pipeline Report provides Colorado-specific information we can use to better align systems and partners to more effectively serve Coloradans."

The Colorado Talent Pipeline Report is released annually and serves as a tool to inform legislation, design and implement programs, and align cross-sector partners with Colorado's talent landscape.

"Colorado is committed to fostering a vibrant, skilled and adaptable workforce," said Executive Director Dr. Angie Paccione, Colorado Department of Higher Education. "Across all Top Jobs in the 2025 Talent Pipeline Report, 77% typically require the completion of a postsecondary credential for entry. This highlights the importance of continuing to enhance the accessibility and navigability of postsecondary education and training in Colorado."

The 2025 Talent Pipeline Report begins with a foundational section on the characteristics of Colorado's labor market and then examines current trends and conditions of the labor market. It highlights Top Jobs in Colorado - jobs with high annual openings, above-average growth and a good wage - as well as employment projections for the state. The report also explores in-demand skills and qualifications as well as key population factors for consideration.

The 2025 report includes updates on recent talent development strategies and identifies potential headwinds. Two policy recommendations were put forth:

1. Using Data to Make Informed Decisions & Measure Impact: The postsecondary education and training system should incorporate consistent, aligned, and collaborative data standards and definitions for providers delivering services. Rigorous methods for analyzing the impact of programs and practices should also be adopted for new and existing efforts so that the investment of public dollars can be made with strong confidence in the likelihood of success and a positive public return.
2. Make the Postsecondary Talent Development System Easier to Navigate: Colorado should re-evaluate what data would be necessary to collect for the state to have better visibility into how learners and earners move through education and training, and where they might get disconnected. This information would help the state have a more accurate, impactful, and holistic response to talent development.

The Colorado Workforce Development Council develops the Talent Pipeline Report in partnership with the Colorado Departments of Higher Education, Labor and Employment, Education, Human Services, Local Affairs, the Colorado Energy Office and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. You can access the Talent Pipeline Report and all appendices on the CWDC website.

About the Colorado Workforce Development Council

The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is a Governor-appointed, public-private partnership with the purpose to advise, oversee, and integrate the work of the Colorado talent development network. The vision of the CWDC is that every Colorado employer has access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan has the opportunity for meaningful employment, resulting in individual and statewide economic prosperity. The CWDC's mission is to enhance and sustain a skills-based talent development network that meets the needs of employers, workers, job seekers, and learners for today and tomorrow.

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