For Immediate Release
Contact: Roger Low, CEO, Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative 303.956.6661 / roger@ceemi.org
Elysia Versen, Deputy Executive Director/COO, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab 970.568.6934 / elysia@coloradolab.org

DENVER, COLORADO — Mon., August 5, 2024 — Initial insights from a report measuring long-term earnings gains, led by the Colorado Wage Outcomes Results Coalition (WORC), show strong earnings growth for low-income and BIPOC earners who participated in two local nonprofit career training programs. The new wage outcome reports for ActivateWork and CrossPurpose are based on several years of earnings data across multiple cohorts of hundreds of learners. Both outcome reports show strong earnings growth over the first year following program exit, and suggest a strong trajectory of continued earnings growth.

The Colorado Equitable Economic Mobility Initiative (CEEMI) partnered with the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver to launch WORC. The joint endeavor was created in response to a growing demand from workforce development programs to know what happens to their learners after program participation. It also aligns with and supports the aim of HB 24-1364, which funds a new centralized longitudinal data system in Colorado to measure learner earnings outcomes over time.

“For the first time in Colorado, we are unlocking state data to measure long-term wage outcomes for learners, broken down specifically by training providers and focused on measuring whether historically disadvantaged learners secure good jobs with good wages,” said Roger Low, CEEMI CEO. “These reports open up a new pathway to grow the evidence base informing and strengthening every aspect of the workforce ecosystem. Scaling this approach will shed needed light on which postsecondary and workforce development approaches meet the needs of learners, workers, and employers, while also helping policymakers better understand and address workforce equity gaps.”

This independently validated longitudinal earnings outcome data, at the program/provider level, is the first of its kind in Colorado. Utilizing the Linked Information Network of Colorado, and connecting data safely and securely through the Governor’s Office of Information Technology, WORC connected learner records to earnings data from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

“After LINC laid the groundwork, including careful work to execute data sharing and data governance agreements, we have the ability to match learners with earnings data in a safe, secure and anonymized way, and then to use this data to analyze program earnings outcomes,” said Elysia Versen, Deputy Executive Director/COO, Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab. “These data are a first step toward understanding return on investment for workforce education and training pathways. Building an evidence base is central to ensuring employers are positioned to hire and retain skilled workers and that there is equitable access to quality jobs that offer a livable wage for all Coloradans.”

The first cohort of workforce development programs participating in the WORC longitudinal evaluation includes ActivateWork, the Center for Employment Opportunities, CrossPurpose, The Master’s Apprentice, Mile High Workshop, and the Women’s Bean Project. The remaining cohort reports will be completed by late summer or early fall.

ActivateWork prepares diverse, underrepresented candidates for roles in IT through a technical training and professional development model developed by Per Scholas. This approach connects qualified talent to leading employers through rigorous skills training, community resources, and professional and life skills coaching. The ActivateWork Outcomes Result Report shows:

  • The average total quarterly earnings of participants rose from $5,776 at program intake to $11,956 after one year, an increase of 107%.
  • One year after program enrollment, participants attained jobs in diverse sectors including administrative and support services, professional, scientific, and technical services, health care and social services, and information.
  • Follow-up survey data shows that graduates attained tech jobs including Help Desk Technician, Systems Engineer, Data Center Operations Technician, Cyber Analyst Apprentice, Systems Engineer, Field Service Technician, and Software Developer Apprentice.

“We are excited to be one of the first programs to see outcome results,” said ActivateWork Founder and CEO Helen Young Hayes. “These data demonstrate that ActivateWork is creating demonstrable social and economic change in Denver. We are building a critical talent pipeline for employers while catalyzing prosperity for our learners.”

CrossPurpose offers a free, six-month career training program that includes professional training, career coaching, licensed counseling, and employer connections, with a focus on providing services to individuals experiencing poverty. The training encompasses a breadth of industries so that participants can find a meaningful credential that leads to career-track employment in a field of their choice. The CrossPurpose Outcomes Result Report shows:

  • The average total quarterly earnings of participants rose from $4,605 at program intake to $8,578 after one year, an increase of 86%.
  • 65.8% of participants are women and 33.6% are men; 64.1% of participants identify as Black or Latino/Hispanic; and 43.7% have pursued education or vocational training beyond high school.
  • A plurality of participants are working in health care and social assistance, or administrative and support services in the fourth quarter after program enrollment; this includes working for employers providing medical, social assistance, and business support services.

“Our focus is not how to help people in poverty, it’s how to help people get out of poverty,” said Jason Janz, CEO, CrossPurpose. “This report shows that our program is making this goal a reality. Our alumni 2 are making a living wage in a job that provides for them and their families. Thanks to strong partnerships with employers and like-minded providers, this work will strengthen our community for generations to come.”

To learn more or schedule an interview, please contact Roger Low, CEO, CEEMI – roger@ceemi.org or 303-956-6661.

About ActivateWork

ActivateWork is a talent solutions organization that transforms motivated individuals into highly skilled, valuable team members. Our rigorous recruiting, industry-driven training, curated matches, and professional skills coaching prepare new employees to thrive in their careers. For more information, visit www.activatework.org

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[Boilerplate updated July 17, 2025]