Narrative: III. b. 1. A.

Colorado is excited to have received a Workforce Data Quality Initiative grant to help develop a workforce longitudinal data system that includes inputs from core programs and other partners. Current systems in use by core programs are distinct across the four titles. Integration does currently exist and shared use in place through data sharing agreements. Yet the future alignment of these systems will be greatly enhanced and connected through the developing Colorado Data Trust and work under the grant. Also, through the Workforce Data Quality Initiative, Colorado is updating the skills for customers and training programs in the Employment and Training systems. A summary of existing systems is as follows. 

Connecting Colorado/Case Management Solution: The state relies on a custom vendor-created solution to provide access to both the labor exchange system and the case management system that serves employers, job seekers, and workforce center staff. This system, Connecting Colorado, employs robust API interfaces that exchange data securely and regularly with all core partner programs. Consistent updates to data sharing agreements between the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, Employment and Training Division, and its partners ensure clearly defined roles and measures with regard to partner data imports, workforce data exports, and its overall use. The Employment and Training Division serves as PACIA under the new State Wage Interchange System and receives and processes wage data on a quarterly basis. 

Connecting Colorado Data/Reporting System: This is the case management, data collection, and reporting system that Colorado developed for statewide use in all of the Workforce Centers. The system provides the ability for Workforce Centers and their partners to track all WIOA Title I-B, TAA, Veteran, Wagner-Peyser, state and local programs (approximately 100), plus discretionary grants in one common database. All reports generated from this system are “up to the minute,” thus allowing better management of day-to-day activity and performance. Along with the federally-mandated reports, Colorado has developed a variety of locally requested reports that allow staff to track their caseloads, correct data entry errors, and analyze performance at the state, local, and case manager level. In addition, the system is agile enough to allow the as needed addition of reports, and program and service codes that will track new statewide initiatives supporting the state’s workforce strategies. Core programs under Title II and Title IV, as well as other workforce partners may make use of this system through data sharing agreements with the state or the local workforce areas.  

Connecting Colorado Self-Service: Connecting Colorado allows job seekers and employers to self-enter their work registration, resume, or job order data directly into the statewide database via the Internet, as well as search for jobs or qualified applicants. Colorado uses a skill based job matching system that focuses on experience, skills, and education level in addition to O*Net job titles, as well as allowing the upload of applicant resumes. All job listings are automatically searched after entry based on the employer’s requirements and in compliance with veterans priority of service. Job seekers can search for new jobs at any time or receive an email notification once a job is entered that matches their specifications. Likewise employers may run applicant searches on demand or rely on automated searches. Connecting Colorado also provides access to a Tool Box of job search assistance links that has been customized for each workforce region. Links include direct access to the local area’s web page, career exploration, training resources, and self-marketing tools, Unemployment Insurance information, and additional job banks. Colorado has developed a mobile application that will allow customers to access these resources on smartphones and other portable devices. 

State Financial Reporting System: This system was developed to track all Federal and state funds disseminated to the statewide system of local workforce areas, who are sub-recipients of the state. Such funds include the allocations for WIOA Title I-B, Wagner-Peyser, and TAA, JVSG, national, and state discretionary grants. It provides on-line access to state financial and program staff, as well as sub-recipient staff, to report expenditures and run real-time on-demand reports for budget monitoring purposes. Data from this system feeds the federal 9130 fiscal reporting formats that are required by USDOL. The software also embodies the payment system for the Trade Readjustment Assistance (TRA) program and generates reports covering TRA payment data. This system will be modified to incorporate all WIOA changes and requirements over the four-year life of this combined plan. 

Virtual Job Fair (VJF): Originally developed in-house by CDLE staff, the Virtual Job Fair has become a critical tool to serve businesses and job seekers alike. CDLE is now developing virtual events through Premier Virtual and still continues to be a critical tool to serve businesses and job seekers alike. To date more than 200,000 job seekers and 50,000 businesses have participated in VJFs statewide. 

• The purpose is to reduce costs of job fairs and other services, and increase access to workforce services for job seekers and businesses statewide, especially in the rural areas of the state. 
• Local workforce areas, other service providers and businesses can partner to target a job fair to a particular business sector or population of job seekers. 
• This system has been used to provide resources and job information to National Guard troops before their return from Afghanistan. On February 24, 2021, CDLE partnered with all local workforce centers to host a Statewide Virtual Hiring Event to get Colorado back to work.
• Features include:  

o Job listings, on-line workshops and career exploration resources o On-line presentations by employers and access to their websites o On-line, real-time job interviews o Run more than one job fair simultaneously o Automatic upload of data to Connecting Colorado to track services and outcomes o Site usage reports

LMI Gateway: Colorado’s LMI Gateway is a powerful labor market information system designed to meet the needs of workforce professionals, job seekers, and businesses, as well as economists, economic development organizations, and the media. This platform is freely available to all core programs and other workforce partners. Training is provided regularly on the use of the site by LMI staff to core program staff through a variety of channels. The consistent use of the LMI Gateway allows all programs to make decisions based on the same data set and shared understanding of economic realities in local communities. 

Examples of LMI Gateway features include: 

• A wide variety of regional labor market services, such as labor trends, statistics, economic, demographic, salary, and employer data 
• Tools to chart and analyze labor market data 
• Career exploration and job postings information 
• A personal home page that allows a registered user to save items that fit their needs 
• Access a wide variety of resources designed to help a business succeed 
• Education and Training Resources: Find a suitable training or education program, as well as information on training providers and schools. This is also known as the Eligible Training Provider List for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs. 

Adult Education MIS: Title II adult education utilizes the commercially available data system, LiteracyPro’s LACES, as the electronic management information system (MIS). LACES is used by all AEFLA grantees. LACES has individual student records (including attendance, assessment and demographic data) within a relational database structure. LACES incorporates required National Reporting System measures using the common definitions and categories. Colorado has made customizations to LACES to allow for additional alerts and widgets that make monthly data desktop monitoring easier for both grantees and state staff. 

Considering the strict state laws around student Personally Identifiable Information, other WIOA partners do not have access to the state adult education data system. State agency staff rely on data matching, outlined in data sharing agreements, to provide the required information for federal reporting.