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Roughly three quarters of all CO jobs require post secondary higher education
(Apr. 27) – The House approved a bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Sullivan and Rep. Rochelle Galindo that would establish a directory with apprenticeship programs within the Department of Labor and it would include salary ranges, critical labor force data, licensure requirements, and other information potential enrollees should know before embarking onto a career pathway.
“I firmly believe every hard working American should get a good-paying job no matter their education. There are currently nearly 200 sponsored apprenticeship programs, and that number is constantly evolving and growing,” said Rep. Sullivan, D-Centennial. “This directory can serve as a beneficial tool to help students and young adults grow in their technical training and enter into career fields that offer salaries without the debt of traditional college.”
The bill also requires the department to distribute the directory to coordinate with local workforce centers, businesses, and education institutions to raise awareness of the apprenticeship programs so more Coloradans can access them.
“This will help expand opportunity for students and accessibility for apprenticeship programs. When I visited various locations that offered these programs, the directors often said the only way they get the word out about these programs is through word-of–mouth,” said Rep. Galindo, D-Greeley. “We need to get these opportunities out there for more students to join the workforce.”
In 2018, it was estimated that building trades had a shortage of 60,000 workers in Colorado. The state’s construction industry alone will need at least 30,000 new workers to meet demand in the years ahead.
SB19-171 passed on a voice-vote. A final vote will be taken at a later date.