(Denver) - Every September, Colorado celebrates Workforce Development Month by highlighting its resources to support economic growth and opportunity for both employers and job seekers, as well as their communities. Gov. Jared Polis issued a proclamation to mark Workforce Development Month that notes "globalization, market forces, demographic shifts and technological advances are shaping our economy today and require workforce solutions that are agile and innovative.”
The proclamation adds: “Our State’s public workforce ecosystem and the leaders who serve on our workforce boards strive to align educators, employers and economic developers to enhance regional workforce development and ensure we are building the labor force that businesses need to make Colorado the best place to work.”
"In our rapidly evolving world, a skilled and adaptable workforce is the engine that drives Colorado's economic prosperity," said CDLE Executive Director Joe Barela. "Workforce Development Month is an opportunity to show how all Coloradans can tap into Colorado’s resources to support workers, businesses and local communities. Colorado’s innovative workforce solutions will help us maintain our competitive edge.”
Celebrated nationally, this year’s Workforce Development Month efforts spearheaded by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) will focus on two recent achievements: the recently modernized Connecting Colorado, and the unification of Colorado’s public workforce system under the brand Workforce Colorado.
Introducing Workforce Colorado
Workforce Colorado is comprised of 50+ workforce centers across the state and powered by multiple state and local agencies including CDLE and its eight divisions and four special offices specializing in a range of targeted workforce services. Throughout Workforce Development Month, CDLE and its local counterparts that power Workforce Colorado will raise awareness about the wide scope of tools and programs available to help businesses thrive and Coloradans advance their careers.
The public workforce system that drives Workforce Colorado, is dedicated to breaking down barriers and fostering opportunity for all Coloradans, including individuals with disabilities, veterans, justice-involved individuals, youth, New Americans and residents of communities in transition. “When all Coloradans can achieve rewarding careers, the entire state benefits,” Barela added.
Re-introducing Connecting Colorado
The month's activities will emphasize the tangible benefits of engaging with the public workforce system, including its modernized labor exchange, ConnectingColorado.gov. The new Connecting Colorado tool serves as a prime example of Colorado's commitment to innovation. Using advanced technology, this fully updated hiring platform efficiently matches job seekers with opportunities while streamlining the hiring process for employers. It emphasizes skills over titles or credentials, identifying precisely what is needed to get the job done.
In just a few months since it relaunched this year, Connecting Colorado has supported more than 800 companies with their hiring needs and over 49,000 job seekers with their career development. The platform has logged more than 140,000 job postings.
Workforce Development Month will feature a variety of events and activities across the state. A few upcoming events are listed below. The full event calendar along with curated information about Colorado’s workforce development resources is available at: workforcedevelopmentmonth.cdle.co.
Upcoming Events:
- Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Fair Chance Employment Tools & Strategies
This workshop is designed to empower justice-involved individuals with knowledge and resources to successfully navigate employment barriers.
Location: Castle Rock Workforce Center on the ACC Sturm Campus
4500 Limelight Ave
Castle Rock, CO 80109
- Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Metro Area Virtual Career Fair
A collaborative effort by counties across Colorado including Denver, Arapahoe/Douglas Works!, Boulder, Broomfield, Adams and Jefferson, this online event connects job seekers with employers from diverse industries, offering a convenient platform to explore job openings, network with hiring managers and advance your career from the comfort of your home.
Register here.
- Monday, September 8, 2025 at 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Interviewing Essentials
Learn how to effectively prepare, communicate your strengths, and handle common and challenging interview questions. This interactive session includes personalized feedback and tips to help you stand out to employers.
Location: Broomfield Workforce Center
100 Spader Way
Broomfield, CO 80020
- Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at 12 – 1 p.m.
Elevating Your Business with Business Services
Hosted by Workforce Colorado Weld County, this virtual event allows local business to connect with our business services representatives and explore how we can help recruit top talent, access valuable training resources and explore additional workforce development solutions.
Register here.
- Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 9 - 11 a.m.
Career Open House - Limon
Hosted by Morgan Community College (MCC) and Workforce Colorado at the Limon Workforce Center, employers and job seekers are invited for coffee, donuts and conversation, as we showcase our shared commitment to building a strong workforce and a thriving community.
Location: Limon Workforce Center
333 M Avenue
Limon, CO 80828
- Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 3 - 6 p.m.
CMU Montrose Career Fair
Hosted jointly by CDLE, the Montrose Workforce Center, Colorado Mesa University Montrose and the Montrose Library, the CMU Montrose Career Fair is an opportunity for employers to expand their reach and connect with a diverse, skilled pool of talent. Happening during the highest student traffic day on campus, the event is designed to capture students as they transition between classes and is also open to the public to maximize participating employers' potential candidate pool.
Location: Colorado Mesa University - Montrose Campus outside grounds
245 S Cascade Ave
Montrose, CO 81401
*In case of rain, the event will move indoors to Cascade Hall.
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