Direct care workers in Colorado joined with care recipients to recommend increasing wages to $25/hr and provide solutions to improve the direct care industry through Colorado’s Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board in the Colorado Department of Labor.
DENVER, CO – Members of Colorado’s first Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board voted in favor of several recommendations to improve the care industry, for both workers and clients. The recommendations include a $25 base wage increase by 2026, a minimum of 10 paid days off per year, and paid know your rights training that helps workers access state-mandated benefits and resources to protect against workplace mistreatment.
BACKGROUND AND NEXT STEPS
After years of advocacy from care workers and clients, this first of its kind board was established through the Colorado state legislature in 2023 with the goal of bringing together stakeholders in the direct care industry to develop solutions to ensure a long-lasting, sustainable field. After first convening in late 2023, the Direct Care Stabilization Board held regular meetings throughout 2024, including public testimony hearings from direct care workers and care recipients, to inform their recommendations.
Care workers face chronically low wages, lack of benefits, and other systemic issues that create high turnover rates in this essential industry. By addressing these issues, Colorado is on track to build a strong industry for this essential workforce and ensure the highest quality of care for clients.
These official recommendations will now be presented to Colorado’s elected leaders and government agencies for consideration and implementation, either through legislative action or adoption by state departments.
Below are statements from care workers and care recipients who were involved in this 8-month public process:
“There’s a care crisis in Colorado, and these recommendations put us on a path to addressing the shortages in a growing industry,” said Sandra Sherwood, a direct care worker in Penrose. “Our state needs care workers, and for that to happen, these jobs need to be good jobs. As a care worker myself, I’ve experienced the care crisis first hand, and we heard from dozens of other care workers throughout the state who have experienced the same. I know that things like higher wages and benefits are what’s needed to start bringing workers back into this field and making sure that no Coloradan ever has to go without the care they need.”
“I’ve depended on care workers for over 8 years,” said Jennifer Ochs, a direct care recipient from Boulder. “I’ve seen firsthand how difficult it can be to get a care worker. Sometimes folks in need like me can go weeks or months without one, mostly because there’s such a shortage in the workforce. By making these jobs better—with fair wages and benefits—we can change that. These recommendations are a critical step toward ensuring that everyone in need of care can access it when they need it most.”
“These recommendations are a monumental achievement for Colorado’s direct care workforce and the people who rely on them,” said Stephanie Felix-Sowy, President of SEIU Local 105 and Chair of the Direct Care Workforce Stabilization Board. “For too long, care workers, a majority of whom are women and disproportionately women of color, have been undervalued and underpaid despite the essential role they play in our communities. By setting a $25 base wage, ensuring paid time off, and providing critical rights training, we’re not only uplifting the workers but also enhancing the quality of care across the state. This is a win for everyone—workers, clients, and employers alike—and it sets a powerful precedent for what’s possible when we come together to advocate for dignity and fairness in our industry.”
