GOAL
Grow our talent to meet the needs of employers and job seekers.
SUMMARY
We will ensure Arvada and Jefferson / Adams Counties develop, retain, and attract the skilled workers needed by area employers; we will ensure a competitive advantage for area employers through quality workers and for workers through quality jobs.
CHALLENGES
Linkage to business health, the regional economy, and our standard of living.
In Arvada and Jefferson / Adams Counties – and throughout the world – a lack of talent impedes the ability of employers to serve their customers/clients – and threatens the ability of employers to survive and thrive. An inadequate talent pool can erode employer margins as they pay more for scarce talent, and it can slow production, degrade quality and disrupt supply chains. When employers struggle, the regional economy struggles, and incomes and our standard of living decline.
Inadequate supply of available talent.
Employer demand continuously outpaces the supply of qualified workers; nationwide in February 2022, there were only 58 unemployed workers for every 100 job openings; in Arvada in February 2022, there were 3,126 open jobs listed on Indeed alone, and a low 3.7% unemployment rate; various factors are impacting the supply of available talent
- Employee resignations/turnover
- Declining number of women in the workforce
- Declining births and fertility rates
- Declining population growth
Inadequate skills alignment.
Workers don’t have the skills needed by many primary employers
Skills gap: 78% of hiring managers say a skills gap persists across industries
Uneven educational outcomes (high school graduation rates) / workforce preparedness
Barriers.: As a region, we are not progressing fast enough in knocking down barriers to talent availability. See subsequent workforce housing and childcare sections for details on these barriers
Lack of regional coordination.
Jefferson / Adams Counties do not have a coordinated talent/workforce development effort to serve businesses and workers; businesses, non-profits, and schools work in silos leading to talent gaps and negatively impacting businesses and job seekers.
KEY STRATEGIES
Take immediate action to connect employers to talent
Lead regional talent pipeline development
Support employers in retaining and attracting talent
Address barriers to talent sustainability
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Decrease in number of unfilled high-demand career positions
11 “Employer Collaboratives” created and underway
750+ Jefferson County employers in work-based learning program by 2026 (100 currently)
Career Hub in every high school in Jefferson County
Completion of turn-key talent recruitment tools for employers
Talent data dashboard complete and made public
B.O.L.D 2026
Goal 2
Increase Stock of Workforce Housing
Learn More
Goal 3
Increase Childcare Capacity
Learn More
Goal 4
Strengthen Business Environment
Learn More
The Chamber Board and Campaign Leadership Council are convinced B.O.L.D. 2026 is the right approach at the right time for our community and region. Join us!
Get more information about performance measures, budget and staffing today!