Hickenlooper Declares September as Workforce Development

(DENVER) — Governor John Hickenlooper has issued a proclamation declaring September as Workforce Development Month in Colorado.

State and county run employment offices called Workforce Centers will partner with the Department of Labor and Employment to spotlight a variety of services and resources available to the state’s 2.7 million men and women in the state’s labor force and the 170,000 Colorado businesses that hire them.

Workforce Development Month began modestly in 2004 with a handful of events. Now in its second decade, the annual series of events has grown to include a wide array of workshops, open houses, hiring events (both in person and online), employer seminars and more.

Hiring events will take place almost every day across Colorado. Some will be traditional, face-to-face meeting with employers; others will be virtual, online hiring events such as the one going on now and running the entire month of September, connecting job seekers with opportunities in Nebraska.

On September 25, the Second Annual State of the Workforce will be held at the Pikes Peak Workforce Center from 7:30 to 9 AM. This free event will feature a keynote address by Josh Davies, CEO of the Center for Work Ethic Development. Mr. Davies will offer leadership approaches that yield lasting results. For more information or to RSVP, visit the Eventbrite website.

In late September, Colorado’s Construction Career Days will give high school students in the Denver area and in Southern Colorado opportunities to explore the construction trades. On October 1, the Governor’s Summer Job Hunt will conclude its 36th season with an awards reception to honor the exemplary teens and the great businesses that hired them this summer.

Workforce Development Month will showcase how the Department of Labor and Employment and Workforce Centers across Colorado can help businesses and workers succeed. A full calendar of events is available at www.coworkforce.com.   Events will also be posted to Facebook (facebook.com/ColoradoLabor) and Twitter (twitter.com/ColoradoLabor).

It is a time to focus on creating a stronger and more competitive Colorado. In his proclamation, Governor Hickenlooper notes that “breaking down the barriers that keep people from following their dreams and reaching their goals is critically important if Colorado is to remain economically robust and globally competitive.” Workforce Development Month provides an opportunity for Colorado’s workers and entrepreneurs to focus on those dreams.