The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) advises the Governor and the Colorado Legislature on policy matters related to all programs and activities funded by the Workforce Investment Act. The CWDC has been engaged in creative alliances with industry, economic development, and education which have helped to infuse over $10 million into the workforce system to support the enrollment, training, and placement of the unemployed, under-employed, and incumbent workers into high-wage jobs. These partnerships reflect the critical importance, of education, employment, and economic development to the State's edge and empower the system to be responsive to local issues.

The workforce development work we are doing in Colorado is working, and we are determined to continue this critical work in ensuring that Colorado has one of the best talent development systems in the country. Our workforce is among the most educated, with almost 50 percent of the adult population having a post-secondary degree, and our workforce system is leading the way with innovative approaches to help workers not only get jobs, but enter careers.

In Colorado, industry-driven career pathways ensure that education, training, and workforce systems stay deeply attuned and responsive to the needs of the labor market, preparing students and workers with the skills and credentials they need for jobs and careers. This guide outlines a step-by-step approach to building industry-driven career pathway systems that align education and training programs with the needs of the regional economy to ensure that students and job seekers are prepared with the right skills and experiences to get jobs in the driving sectors of their local economies.