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Jobs Panel Seeks To Align Jobs, Job Seekers

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Sep 25, 2008 12:41 pm US/Mountain

Jobs Panel Seeks To Align Jobs, Job Seekers

By Steven K. Paulson, AP Writer
DENVER (AP) ―

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Parts of Colorado have people looking for jobs and jobs looking for people, and the challenge is to find ways to connect them.

A three-month study by Gov. Bill Ritter's job cabinet showed there were more workers than jobs on the eastern plains and San Luis Valley, while there were more jobs than workers in the mountain resorts and Western Slope.

Ritter told the panel Thursday that even though the economy is faltering nationwide, Colorado is better off than other states and needs to begin preparing now for a recovery, whenever that might occur.

He said the challenge now is "how we create jobs and ensure Coloradans fill those jobs," without importing more workers from other states.

"I know it's a sluggish economy, but the economy will turn around," Ritter said.

Ritter announced the informal panel in January, putting business leaders, educators and state officials to work with a mission to align Colorado's economic-development strategies, education programs and regional work force needs to make sure we are producing the highest-quality, 21st century labor force for Colorado businesses.

Panel members said a big challenge is getting workers the education they need in the regions where they live and aligning with the jobs that are open, even though it might require they relocate.

John Boyd, president of Colorado Northwestern Community College, said their biggest challenge is to figure out how to get workers educated and relocated to regions of the state that need more workers.

"It's very difficult to get people to move who are not working," Boyd said.

Panel members said just setting up another Internet Web site telling people where to find jobs won't solve the problem.

Following regional meetings around the state, the panel found that the top job opportunities are in tourism, health care and education.

Regional issues included affordable housing in the mountains and Western Slope; lack of high-speed internet on the Western Slope, Eastern Plains and mountain regions; a lack of blue collar workers in the mountains, Western Slope and Eastern Plains; immigration reform to provide more workers in the mountains and Eastern Plains, and educational opportunities on the Western Slope, Eastern Plains and mountain regions.