Research & Reports
In today’s business environment, nothing is more important to a company's success than its workforce. And it is becoming more challenging for businesses to find workers with the necessary skill sets to help them prosper in our competitive global economy.
In early 2006, the U.S. Department of Labor awarded the nine-county Metro Denver region (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld Counties) a four-year, $15 million WIRED (Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development) grant.
The Metro Denver WIRED Initiative's goal is to expand the pipeline of skilled workers in the region's fast-growing industries with the biggest labor shortages: aerospace, bioscience, energy, and information technology-software, and to implement a “transformational” approach to regional workforce development.
A major step in crafting a region’s economic development strategy focuses on determining industries to target for growth and retention. Prior to the region receiving the WIRED grant, the Metro Denver EDC published a study of Metro Denver's top industry clusters. Read the executive summary or go to the industries section to learn more. The Toward a More Competitive Colorado (Fourth Edition, 2008) report also examines Colorado's competitive position compared to the other 49 states.
Over the course of the four-year WIRED grant, we have conducted a great deal of research. This research has helped to form the backbone of WIRED’s strategy to create a transformational and sustainable regional talent development workforce.
In addition to research, WIRED also produces quarterly reports, which highlight the work we are doing.
Helpful resources:
Additional WIRED grant documents