WDC Joins “Beyond the Cliff Coalition” to Combat Benefits Cliff and Foster Economic Prosperity
We’re excited to announce our participation in the Beyond the Cliff Coalition, a national collaborative to help families achieve economic prosperity by addressing the benefits cliff. This issue affects millions of low-income families who face financial setbacks when increased earnings lead to a sudden loss of public assistance. The Beyond the Cliff Coalition is led by the Martha O’Bryan Center, with funding from the Kresge Foundation, and includes various partners across the nation.
Making Quality Training Accessible to Everyone
We want everyone to have access to high-quality training programs. These programs should open doors to good jobs with career pathways. We’ve joined forces with Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) to figure out what changes we need to make the U.S. workforce training system better for everyone. Especially, to center racial equity and job quality within the needs of both today’s job market and what’s expected in the future.
New Study Reveals Impact of $500 to Fight Poverty in King County
A $500 monthly boost led to significant employment growth, enhanced savings, improved debt management, and better quality of life for diverse King County residents facing poverty. The Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) Pilot, designed by the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) and independently evaluated by Applied Inference, showed promising outcomes over its 10-month course.
Help Shape The Future of the Local Workforce
The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) is proud to present the draft of the Seattle-King County WIOA Local Plan for the years 2024-2028. This plan is a testament to our steadfast commitment to transforming the regional workforce development system with racial equity at the center.
New Research: Startling Rates of Economic Insecurity in Washington State
More than one-fourth of Washington's working-age households struggle to meet their basic needs, according to a report released September 26th, 2023 by the University of Washington Center for Women's Welfare. The report shows that an alarming 28% of working-age households struggle to meet their basic needs, a significant rise from 22% in 2019, showing the profound economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The problem, though pervasive across the state, is most pronounced in eastern Washington and the Olympic Peninsula, with some counties reporting 40% of households battling to cover basic needs.
Stark Racial Gaps in King County, According to New Data Platform
A new data tool demonstrates the significant gap between racial inequality in King County as compared with state and national averages. Although the region boasts relatively high incomes, this prosperity is concentrated among the White population. The data represents the first phase of “Workforce Dynamics,” a new economic and social visualization project produced by the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC). The project offers detailed and disaggregated data visualizations, with initial focus on Place and Income.
Health Professions Opportunity Grant: A Decade of Success
Designed to meet the expanding labor needs of Seattle-King County, the Health Professions Opportunity Grant (HPOG) connects job seekers to training that leads to careers in healthcare. This year marks the 11th and possibly final year of the program, with HPOG slated to end in September without re-authorization by Congress. As we look back, and look forward, it is important to highlight the accomplishments of program participants and the organizations the WDC has partnered with for more than a decade to bring success to TANF recipients, immigrants and refugees, and large and small healthcare employers.
Kaiser Permanente Awards $350,000 to Expand Youth Apprenticeship
On May 22nd the Kaiser Permanente Health Plan of Washington announced a generous grant of $350,000 to the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) to expand apprenticeship opportunities in in-demand sectors for opportunity youth. "We’re pleased to have so many partners on-board as we take on this project,” said Marie Kurose, new CEO of the WDC. “It’s exciting to bring our focus on high-quality training and high-demand jobs into a community like South King County, where those resources, combined with a commitment to equitable outcomes, can have a huge impact on the lives of opportunity youth."
King County Executive & City of Seattle Spotlight the Efforts of the Workforce Development Council
King County and City of Seattle are transforming the workforce system to connect more people to high-demand jobs. The new model will better align funding to help people who face barriers to employment and help ensure that employers have the well-trained workforce they need to remain competitive in the global economy.
Map Your Career | Redesign Walkthrough
Map Your Career, a career pathway planning resource illustrating Seattle-King County’s current and predicted labor market, has been completely redesigned with updated data.
In a classroom or career counseling setting, Map Your Career is most useful for broadening awareness around local opportunities, and inspiring further discovery of education, training pathways, and networking starting points.
In addition to a printed booklet for the public school and workforce systems, MapYourCareer.org is easily accessible on both desktop and mobile devices.
Let's take a walkthrough of the major features.