Looking Around Corners Workforce Survey
Colorado is at a pivotal moment. From generative AI and demographic shifts to affordability pressures and global disruption, the forces shaping our economy are arriving faster than many systems are prepared to handle. With this report, Colorado Business Roundtable brings the voice of Colorado’s largest employers into the conversation about workforce readiness in times of unprecedented change. Drawing on surveys and in-depth executive interviews, this report presents insights from organizations that employ over 150,000 Coloradans across nine industries and more than 875,000 people globally.
These employers are not passively responding to change; they are driving it. In the face of persistent labor shortages, rising costs, and rapidly changing skill requirements, employers are taking proactive steps to remain competitive. They are evolving hiring practices, accelerating the adoption of technologies like generative AI and automation, and building new partnerships with K-12 systems, traditional higher education, and post secondary workforce organizations that prioritize speed, ROI, and real-world relevance.
The key insights from the survey and executive interviews add important nuance to three global trends reshaping the world of work: skills-based hiring, the rise of AI, and growing economic and regulatory uncertainty. Most importantly, these findings can help workforce partners “look around corners” to better align with employers and unlock the full potential of the future of work.
The results are a call to action: to align faster, build smarter partnerships, and strengthen the skills and systems needed for long-term competitiveness.
