Colorado Springs is thriving. Our city’s economy has diversified beyond its military roots, with technology companies, healthcare systems, and manufacturing facilities choosing to call the Pikes Peak region home. Yet beneath this economic success story lies a troubling reality: a growing skills gap that threatens our community’s long-term prosperity and leaves thousands of our neighbors behind.

The Numbers Tell a Story

Walk through any commercial district in Colorado Springs, and you’ll see the signs—literally. “Now Hiring” placards fill windows from restaurants to retail stores, from healthcare facilities to construction sites. Recent data shows that Colorado Springs had 26,675 job openings as of July 2024, with some of the top-paying positions in software development, nursing, and computer system engineering. Statewide, Colorado reported 128,000 job openings in December 2024, spanning industries from advanced manufacturing to cybersecurity, from healthcare to hospitality.

Meanwhile, our unemployment rate tells only part of the story. While official numbers may seem encouraging, they don’t capture the underemployment crisis—individuals working part-time jobs when they need full-time work, or those who have given up looking for employment altogether. According to workforce development data, there are currently “two jobs for every one job seeker” in Colorado, yet significant skills gaps prevent many positions from being filled. More troubling still is the number of young adults aged 18-24 who are neither employed nor in school, a demographic that represents not just individual tragedy but enormous untapped potential for our community.

Beyond the Construction Trades

When we discuss skills gaps, construction often dominates the conversation—and for good reason. The Colorado Springs building boom has created an insatiable demand for skilled tradespeople. But the challenge extends far beyond hard hats and tool belts.

Healthcare: Our aging population and expanding medical facilities need certified nursing assistants, medical technicians, and support staff. Colorado faces a projected shortage of over 7,000 nurses alone. These roles offer stable employment and clear career progression paths, yet training programs struggle to keep pace with demand.

Technology: As Colorado Springs emerges as a tech hub, companies desperately need not just software developers but also cybersecurity specialists, data analysts, and IT support technicians. The Colorado Technology Association estimates a potential shortage of over 30,000 tech workers statewide by 2025. Many of these roles require certifications rather than four-year degrees, making them accessible to motivated individuals willing to invest in targeted training.

Manufacturing: Advanced manufacturing facilities throughout the region need skilled operators, quality control specialists, and maintenance technicians. Colorado’s advanced manufacturing sector faces a potential shortage of over 10,000 skilled workers by 2027. These positions offer middle-class wages and benefits while requiring specialized but achievable skill sets.

Logistics and Transportation: Our city’s strategic location makes it a distribution hub, creating demand for certified commercial drivers, warehouse supervisors, and logistics coordinators—careers that provide stability and growth potential.

The Real Cost of Inaction

Every unfilled position represents more than just an inconvenience for employers. It’s a missed opportunity for individuals to build stable careers, support their families, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. When skilled positions remain vacant, businesses may relocate or scale back expansion plans, ultimately limiting economic growth for everyone.

Perhaps most significantly, the skills gap perpetuates cycles of poverty and disconnection. Young adults without clear pathways to meaningful employment often struggle with housing instability, relationship challenges, and a sense of hopelessness about their futures. Some may turn to alternative means of income that put them at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system, creating additional barriers to future employment.

The Untapped Potential

Here’s what many workforce development discussions miss: some of our community’s greatest potential lies within populations often overlooked by traditional hiring practices. Young adults who have faced challenges—whether involvement with juvenile justice, periods of homelessness, or struggles with education—often possess remarkable resilience, problem-solving abilities, and motivation to prove themselves when given genuine opportunities.

These individuals don’t need charity; they need pathways. They need training programs that meet them where they are, employers willing to look beyond past mistakes, and communities that believe in second chances. When we create these opportunities, we don’t just fill job openings—we transform lives and strengthen our entire community.

Building Bridges, Not Barriers

Addressing Colorado Springs’ skills gap requires more than posting job openings and hoping for the best. It demands intentional bridge-building between employers seeking skilled workers and individuals ready to develop those skills. This means:

• Targeted Training Programs: Partnerships between employers and training organizations that focus on specific, in-demand skills rather than generic job preparation.
• Supportive Wraparound Services: Recognizing that employment barriers often extend beyond skills—transportation, childcare, and basic life stability all impact job readiness.
• Employer Education: Helping businesses understand the value of hiring individuals with non-traditional backgrounds and providing support during the integration process.
• Community Investment: Understanding that workforce development is community development, requiring sustained commitment from multiple stakeholders.

The Path Forward

Colorado Springs has always been a city that rallies around its own. Our military community understands the value of giving people opportunities to prove themselves—with over 350 veterans transitioning monthly from military service and choosing to build careers here. Our business community recognizes that sustainable growth requires sustainable workforce development. Our faith communities know that everyone deserves a chance to contribute meaningfully to society.

The question isn’t whether we can address our skills gap—it’s whether we’re willing to embrace the full spectrum of talent in our community. Colorado Springs is among the most educated cities in America, with 38% of residents holding bachelor’s degrees or higher—6% above the national average. Yet education alone doesn’t solve the skills gap. We need pathways for the young man who made mistakes as a teenager but now demonstrates reliability and work ethic. The single mother seeking stable employment to support her family. The veteran transitioning to civilian careers. The high school graduate who chose work over college but now wants to develop specialized skills.

These aren’t just statistics in workforce development reports. They’re our neighbors, and they represent Colorado Springs’ greatest untapped resource. When we invest in comprehensive workforce development that creates genuine pathways to middle-class careers, we don’t just solve labor shortages—we build a stronger, more inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

The hidden cost of untapped talent isn’t just economic—it’s human. But so is the tremendous potential that lies waiting for the right opportunities, the right training, and the right community support. Colorado Springs has everything it needs to close the skills gap. Now it’s time to get to work.