Colorado has never been short on workforce innovation.

From apprenticeships and career-connected education to industry credentials and dual enrollment, our state has become a national leader in preparing talent for the future economy. Now Colorado has set one of the most ambitious goals in the country: ensuring every high school graduate completes at least one of the state's "Big Three" workforce readiness milestones: an industry credential, college credits, or a high-quality work-based learning experience.

It's a worthy goal. But achieving it will require more employers to step forward.

A new report from the Burning Glass Institute and Colorado Business Roundtable highlights both the opportunity and the challenge. Nearly 70% of high school students say they want work-based learning experiences, yet only a small percentage ever gain access. In Colorado, there has been roughly one publicly posted high-school-accessible internship for every 27 graduates. Simply put, student demand far exceeds employer capacity.

That gap matters because work-based learning works.

Students who participate in internships and similar experiences earn more, are less likely to be underemployed, and are more likely to advance in their careers. Employers benefit as well. Internships create talent pipelines, reduce hiring risk, and improve employee retention. Perhaps most importantly for Colorado, nearly 80% of students who complete internships in the state remain here afterward.

In a state where virtually every industry is competing for talent, that's a statistic worth paying attention to.

The report also highlights several demographic trends that should concern all of us.

Colorado's Hispanic student population has grown significantly and now represents more than one-third of students statewide. Yet only 7% of interns currently come from Hispanic backgrounds. Rural communities face similar challenges, with the vast majority of work-based learning opportunities concentrated along the Front Range. If workforce development is truly about opportunity, we must ensure access extends beyond ZIP codes, family connections, and traditional career pathways.

Fortunately, Colorado is not starting from scratch.

Programs like CareerWise, P-TECH schools, Careers in Construction Colorado, and innovative career campuses across the state have demonstrated what is possible when education and industry work together. Here in the mountain region, we see similar opportunities in hospitality, health care, construction, outdoor recreation, public safety, transportation, and the skilled trades.

The lesson is simple: work-based learning doesn't have to mean a formal internship.

Many businesses immediately assume they lack the time, staff, or resources to participate. But work-based learning exists on a continuum. A company tour, a job shadow, a classroom presentation, a project challenge, or a mentorship can be just as impactful for a young person exploring career options. Not every employer can host dozens of students. Every employer can do something.

One finding from the report particularly stood out. Approximately 45,000 Colorado high school students already have jobs. They are working in restaurants, retail stores, recreation businesses, grocery stores, and service industries. Rather than viewing those jobs as unrelated to education, we should help students connect what they are learning at work to what they are learning in school.

Communication. Teamwork. Problem-solving. Customer service. Reliability. Adaptability.

These are not secondary skills. They are the durable human skills employers consistently tell us they need most.

The call to action is straightforward.

If you are an employer struggling to find talent, consider becoming part of the solution. Open your doors. Host a student. Offer a tour. Participate in a career fair. Partner with Eagle County School District, Vail Valley Partnership, and/or Colorado Mountain College. Start small if necessary, but start.

The workforce of the future isn't sitting somewhere waiting to be discovered. It's sitting in our classrooms today. The question is how we are willing to help students connect learning with opportunity before they graduate.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, 3-time national chamber of the year. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com