The CWDC Empowerment Score measures individual, community and economic area characteristics that lead to greater job stability and increased wages for Colorado workers. This section provides details on the design, data and methodology that developed the scores. For questions about this methodology, contact Mereb Hagos at the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness – [email protected].

Empowerment Score Design 

The empowerment score includes individual, community, and economic area variables identified by the research literature and by stakeholders as shaping the economic mobility of individuals as they seek better jobs and training. Below we describe the seven major categories and about 40 total associated indicators drawn from Connecting Colorado and publicly available data. Each category of indicators includes two to twelve indicators and has a combined “score” for the entire category. Counties are assigned scores in each of the categories. Some categories (education and training, job opportunities, and regional context) include indicators measured at the region level (OEDIT Economic Development Regions).

Empowerment Score Construction

For an indicator x, a score will be developed using the following equation:

Score: zi = ( xi − min(x) ) / ( max(x) − min(x) ) 
Where i is a county in Colorado 

This equation normalizes each individual indicator’s distribution and makes it possible to construct composite or summary scores in each of seven major categories by averaging the individual indicators in each category for each county. 

Below are final categories and indicators. The final Empowerment Score for each county is an average of the category scores.

Empowerment Score Details and Data Sources

We relied on various publicly available data sources. These include:

  • American Community Survey (ACS)
  • U.S. Census
  • O*NET OnLine (ONET)
  • Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
  • Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) from Trainingproviderresults.gov
  • Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW)
  • Crime Data from U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics (DOJ)

We relied on insights and data from private and proprietary and limited-time sources. These include:

We also included information key to the work of CWDC and partners. These include:

  • Credentials and Training measures in the Individual Achievements category from the Connecting Colorado client management system
  • CWDC Bridging the Talent Gap Survey measures in the Leadership & Engagement category.

Key Concepts include:

In-demand occupations

Opportunity Occupations

Related industries

  • Industries where retail occupations (identified by CWDC: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VBF1bs2jQwlfGkLEx2BnyRsHPcBpc9_y-GqwYx7OGWI/edit) earn more than in traditional retail, accommodation, food service, or arts, entertainment, and recreation industries. These industries offer an opportunity for retail, accommodation, or food service workers to seek higher annual wages through leveraging their existing skills, experience, and training.
Individual Achievements
Individual-level factors affecting economic mobility. Training completed and credentials gained by Connecting Colorado participants as well as high school graduation rates.
Subject AreaIndicatorRelationship to Economic MobilityData Source
EducationHigh school graduation rateMore mobility (+)ACS
CredentialsPercent of Connecting Colorado population completing training with occupational certificate, certification, or licenseMore mobility (+)Connecting Colorado
TrainingRate of training completion for Connecting Colorado populationMore mobility (+)Connecting Colorado
    
Neighborhood Characteristics
Neighborhood-level factors that affect economic mobility. Bachelor’s degree attainment  and high school absenteeism rates, crime, unemployment, labor force participation, and cost of living.
Subject AreaIndicatorsRelationship to Economic MobilityData Source
CostCost of Living Index ScoreLess mobility (-)EMSI
UnemploymentUnemployment rateLess mobility (-)ACS
Labor force participationLabor force participation rateMore mobility (+)ACS
Education  Percent of population with bachelor’s degree or higherMore mobility (+)ACS
 Absenteeism rateLess mobility (-)IPEDS
CrimeCrime rate per capita  Less mobility (-)DOJ and ACS
Regional Education and Training 
Educational and training opportunities at a regional level. Availability of training providers and programs in subject areas related to in-demand and opportunity occupations.
Subject Area  Indicators  Relationship to Economic Mobility Data Source 
Training ProgramsRatio of eligible training programs in related in-demand occupations to regional populationMore mobility (+)ETPL and ACS
 Ratio of eligible training programs in related opportunity occupations to regional populationMore mobility (+)ETPL and Brookings
    
Postsecondary Education ProgramsRatio of postsecondary programs in related in-demand occupations to regional populationMore mobility (+)IPEDS and ACS
 Ratio of postsecondary programs in related opportunity occupations to regional populationMore mobility (+)IPEDS and Brookings
Industry Dynamics
Industry growth and racial/ethnic diversity. Retail, accommodation, food service, and recreation sectors, and industries offering related employment opportunities. Historical and projected job openings, industry employment and earnings, business size and new business starts.
Subject Area Indicators  Relationship to Economic Mobility Data Source 
Primary Industries (Retail Trade; Accommodation, Food Services; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation)Employment per individuals in labor forceMore mobility (+)QCEW and ACS
 Average annual pay relative to MHIMore mobility (+)QCEW and ACS
 Historic employment growth, percent change over last yearMore mobility (+)EMSI
 Historic employment growth, percent change over last 5 yearsMore mobility (+)EMSI
Related industries (offering better wages to frontline workers)Employment per individuals in labor forceMore mobility (+)QCEW and ACS
 Average annual pay relative to MHIMore mobility (+)QCEW and ACS
 Historic employment growth, percent change over last yearMore mobility (+)EMSI
 Historic employment growth, percent change over last 5 yearsMore mobility (+)EMSI
 Employment per individuals in labor forceMore mobility (+)QCEW and ACS
    
Opportunity Jobs
The number and character of accessible in-demand and opportunity occupations. Job openings, wages, and demographic diversity for opportunity and in-demand occupations. Number of completers of relevant training and education programs (for comparison to job openings). Automation risk to assess ongoing and potential change in skill demands across the region.
Subject Area Indicator Relationship to Economic MobilityData Source
Job openingsRatio of in-demand occupations openings to labor force  

Ratio of opportunity occupations openings to labor force
More mobility (+)    

More mobility (+)
EMSI and ACS  


EMSI, ACS, and Brookings
  WagesRatio of in-demand occupations median annual wages to median household income  

Ratio of opportunity occupations median annual wages to median household income
More mobility (+)      

More mobility (+)
EMSI and ACS  


EMSI, ACS, and Brookings
  DiversityRatio of nonwhite population in in-demand occupations to nonwhite population in region  

Ratio of nonwhite population in opportunity occupations to nonwhite population in region  
More mobility (+)      

More mobility (+)
EMSI and ACS


EMSI, ACS, and Brookings
Program CompletersRatio of annual completers from eligible programs in related in-demand occupations relative to regional population  


Ratio of annual completers from eligible programs in related opportunity occupations relative to regional population  
More mobility (+)    



More mobility (+)
ETPL and ACS  




ETPL, ACS, and Brookings
AutomationAutomation risk for frontline occupations based on county occupation mixLess mobility (-)EMSI and ONET
Regional Context 
Other regional indicators representing outcomes related to economic mobility. Percent of households below poverty line and median household income.
Subject Area  Indicators Relationship to Economic Mobility Data Source 
PovertyPercent of households below poverty lineLess mobility (-)ACS
IncomeMedian household income (MHI)More mobility (+)ACS
Leadership and Engagement 
Sector partnership participation and employer participation in the Bridging the Talent Gap survey. The racial/ethnic diversity of management occupations across all sectors in the county. The participation rates of residents in the Census.
Subject Area IndicatorsRelationship to Economic MobilityData Source
Employer Engagement   Presence of sector strategy partnerships (yes/no)More mobility (+)CWDC
 Percentage of employers who completed the Bridging the Talent Gap survey (Number of employers who completed the survey / number of employers asked to complete survey)  More mobility (+)Bridging the Talent Gap Survey (CWDC)
Management diversityRatio of nonwhite population in management occupations to nonwhite population in region  More mobility (+)EMSI and ACS
Decennial Census ParticipationPercent of respondents filling out mail-in census questionnaire, 2010More mobility (+)Census