Narrowing the Electronic Proficiency Divide with Diversified Education Programs
Colorado is making significant strides in addressing the talent pipeline challenge in the electronics sector with a multi-faceted approach that includes apprenticeships, industry-education partnerships, hands-on training academies, expanded career and technical education (CTE) programs, and digital skill development.
One of the key examples is ActivateWork’s Tech Apprenticeship Program, a tuition-free, four-month bootcamp followed by paid on-the-job training. This program, which doubles participants’ wages initially and supports continuous career advancement, emphasizes both technical skills and essential professional skills. It provides an alternative to a traditional college pathway in IT and tech fields, helping close education gaps and promote economic mobility.
The CoorsTek Academy and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, established in 2021, is another initiative targeting critical manufacturing workforce needs, including in electronics-related sectors. This initiative offers hands-on training, career pathway development, and technical skill-building for diverse learners. It leverages state grants, such as the Opportunity Now Colorado grant, to collaborate with educational institutions and industry partners, offering programs such as PLCs, CNC machining, and preventative maintenance.
Regions like Colorado Springs and El Paso County are developing CTE centers aligned with industry needs, including aerospace, defense, cybersecurity, IT, and semiconductor manufacturing (CHIPS Act-aligned occupations). These centers offer students and adult learners opportunities for internships, mentorships, dual enrollment with colleges, and access to industry certifications, helping build a skilled pipeline in electronics and related advanced tech sectors.
The Digital Access and Empowerment Initiative, led by Colorado’s Workforce Development Council and Office of the Future of Work, aims to reduce digital inequities by enhancing digital literacy and inclusion through tailored skill attainment modules, community interventions, and comprehensive reporting. Such digital upskilling is critical for electronic workforce readiness.
Basic Electronics Certificate at Pikes Peak Community College offers training in testing, repair, and troubleshooting electronics systems like LANs and digital circuits, equipping students with essential foundational skills for electronics careers.
These initiatives demonstrate Colorado’s commitment to strengthening the electronics talent pipeline. The global electronics trade reaches approximately $4.5 trillion annually, and electronics supply chains are the most globally integrated of any industry. Talent shortages persist in the electronics sector, affecting both entry-level technicians and more seasoned engineers.
The Opportunity Now grant program, a near $90 million investment, is aimed at creating transformative change for Colorado's workforce through varied educational and training approaches. In total, 96 grants have been awarded, supporting a diverse range of sectors including healthcare, education, infrastructure and construction, quantum, semiconductors, clean tech, and advanced manufacturing.
Notable recipients include CoorsTek, a manufacturer of technical ceramics, which was awarded over $4.5 million to expand the CoorsTek Training Academy. Microchip Technology received over $1 million to advance semiconductor career opportunities in partnership with manufacturers and Pikes Peak State College.
The Colorado Technology Association, representing more than 400 members and a network of 18,000 leaders statewide, plays a crucial role in this effort. The broader technology sector accounts for 10% of the state's employment, making it a significant contributor to Colorado's economy.
The Global Electronics Association, representing more than 3,000 companies worldwide and serving as the electronics industry's primary standards-setting body, partners with employers to develop technical standards and certification programs for the entire industry. This partnership will further strengthen Colorado's electronics workforce.
These initiatives underscore Colorado's efforts to create a streamlined IT workforce ecosystem, training hundreds of tech professionals annually through industry-led partnerships. By addressing both technical and soft skills needs in the workforce, Colorado is helping to ensure that manufacturing jobs become not just a job, but a real career when employees build proficiency and stackable skills, as stated by Irma Lockridge, chief people officer at CoorsTek.
- The CoorsTek Academy and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, funded by the Opportunity Now Colorado grant, offers hands-on training, career pathway development, and technical skill-building in electronics-related sectors, partnering with educational institutions and industry leaders to provide programs like PLCs, CNC machining, and preventative maintenance.
- The Global Electronics Association, partnering with employers, develops technical standards and certification programs for the entire industry, reinforcing Colorado's initiatives by strengthening the electronics workforce and ensuring that employees build proficiency and stackable skills, thus transforming manufacturing jobs into real careers with continuous growth opportunities.
