Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment are marking September 2026 as Workforce Development Month, spotlighting resources available to job seekers and employers across the state through the Workforce Colorado system.

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Governor Polis issued a proclamation noting that "globalization, market forces, demographic shifts and technological advances are shaping our economy today and require workforce solutions that are agile and innovative." The governor added: "Every Coloradan deserves a clear path to a good-paying job, whether that's through an apprenticeship, on-the-job-training, or a new certification. Colorado has made incredible progress to expand and create new career pathways for Coloradans, it's part of why Colorado is ranked the Best State for Education and the kind of opportunity we're celebrating and building on this Workforce Development Month."

"Workforce Development Month is a tribute to the resilient workers and visionary employers who help support Coloradans to thrive. Our economic strength relies on our ability to create economic opportunities for all while building tomorrow's workforce today," said CDLE Executive Director Joe Barela.

Workforce Colorado, the state's unified public workforce system, operates more than 50 workforce centers statewide and includes CDLE's Rural Alliance and Apprenticeship Colorado. The month's first weekly theme is "Creating Tomorrow's Workforce Today," with a focus on resources addressing technology, automation, and economic change. In partnership with the Colorado Energy Office, Colorado's Workforce Development Council will highlight programs tied to the Colorado Climate Workforce Analysis and Action Plan.

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"Colorado's future relies on a robust climate workforce to implement innovative technologies that save Coloradans money while ensuring cleaner air and making our state an even safer and healthier place to live," said Colorado Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor.

Rural communities are a particular focus. "In rural Colorado, our communities thrive when our local workforce is strong and our businesses have access to the right talent," said Suzie Miller, Director of the Workforce Colorado Rural Alliance. "By bridging the gap between dedicated job seekers and growing employers, we are ensuring that economic vitality, opportunity, and innovative career pathways reach every corner of our state."

The state's hiring platform, ConnectingColorado.gov, received a major upgrade last year. Since modernization, the platform has supported more than 190,000 job seekers with career development, assisted more than 6,600 employers with recruitment, logged more than 180,400 job postings, and helped more than 7,300 Coloradans get hired directly through the portal. Average time from registration to first service delivery has dropped from 10 days to about three days. More than 93,000 job seekers have returned to the platform multiple times, and more than 137,000 program enrollments have been processed.

Upcoming events include:

• Tuesday, September 1, 2026, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 2026 Governor's Summer Job Hunt Awards Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion, Carriage House, 400 E 8th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80203
• Wednesday, September 3, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Unlock Your Future With AI (hybrid workshop) In-person spots at the Broomfield Workforce Center are at capacity. Virtual registration available at ConnectingColorado.gov.
• Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. 2026 Excellence in Workforce Awards Governor's Residence at the Boettcher Mansion, Carriage House, 400 E 8th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80203
• Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sterling Area Career Fair Mitchek Event Center, 1120 Pawnee Ave., Sterling, Colorado 80751 Job seekers must be registered at ConnectingColorado.gov prior to the event.
• Wednesday, September 16, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Durango Career Fair La Plata County Fairgrounds (Pine & Florida Rooms), 2500 Main Avenue, Durango, Colorado 81301 Early access begins at 9:30 a.m. for Veterans, Active Duty service members, Guard/Reserve personnel, and military families.
• Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Montrose Healthcare Career Fair Colorado Mesa University, Cascade Ave Plaza, 245 S Cascade Ave, Montrose, Colorado 81401 Hosted in partnership with Colorado Mesa University Montrose Campus and the Montrose Regional Library District.
• Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Apprenticeship Career Expo Trojan Arena, 10725 Trojan Point, Fountain, Colorado 80817 Attendees can meet representatives from Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across construction, education, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and more. Register at cdle.jotform.com/261377106263859.

A full calendar of events is available at workforcedevelopmentmonth.cdle.co.