Skills2Compete CO testifies against repealing career support services

Skills2Compete CO testifies against repealing career support services

by Laura Ware | Apr 17, 2026

Education, Family Economic Security, Legislative Updates, Programs, Public Benefits, Research and Policy Analysis, Testimony, Workers, Workforce

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, Laura Ware, Coordinator for the Skills2Compete Coalition Colorado, provided written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee against House Bill 1383, Repeal Employment Support Job Retention Program. The bill would eliminate the Employment Support Job Retention program, which provides emergency employment support and job retention services to eligible individuals in the state.

Chair and members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am Laura Ware, Coordinator for the Skills2Compete (S2C) Coalition Colorado. S2C is the Colorado affiliate of the National Skills Coalition based in Washington D.C. Our coalition is composed of members from employment and training organizations, adult learning programs, libraries, public agencies, and advocacy groups. Our primary goal is to advocate for innovative training and employment strategies and the removal of systemic barriers for low-income individuals of all ages.

It is the belief of S2C and its members that supportive services that focus specifically on assisting a student or job seeker pursue and complete a career goal are an integral part of the workforce development infrastructure. Therefore, the Skills2Compete Coalition Colorado opposes HB26-1383, which repeals the Employment Support Job Retention program, which provides emergency career support services to very low-income job seekers or new workers to get or keep a job.

The state's Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) plan includes the need for supportive services. However, the current lack of adequate funding - including a reduction of supportive services in the proposed version for the reauthorization of the WIOA at the federal level - will prevent workforce centers, employment and training programs, and other state workforce programs such as Employment First and Colorado Works to provide any employment supports that are needed by all students, trainees, jobseekers and those just reentering the workforce.

Everyone needs supportive services to achieve career success. These may come from family, friends, public agencies, or community organizations. For low-income Coloradans pursuing specific careers, these supports are often needed from public resources. Having the resources available to acquire a computer, cover daily transportation expenses, and the like, are directly related to the workforce development process and to the ultimate success of all individuals who are pursuing an education and career goal.

The Skills2Compete Coalition encourages the members of the Colorado Senate to evaluate the extreme importance of career support services especially as new work requirements are being imposed on people that receive public benefits such as SNAP and TANF, and also Medicaid by 2027, based on the passage of HR1 last year.

Thank you for this opportunity to share our concerns about how the loss of this very small program will have impacts on the overall success of all new learners and workers, including adults.

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