2022 - 2023
Annual Report
What We Do
Our team is committed to driving transformative change across the Puget Sound region. We collaborate with businesses, labor groups, educational institutions, nonprofits, and a broad spectrum of community stakeholders. Together, we strive to create a prosperous, inclusive economy where economic growth and opportunities are accessible to everyone, irrespective of race or ethnicity.
Learn More
In the 2022-2023 program year, the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) continued its commitment to economic mobility and addressing systemic inequities, aligning closely with the Regional Strategic Plan. Key initiatives like the Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot boosted employment and stability for marginalized populations, while the Centering Digital Equity program bridged the digital divide, particularly for non-native English speakers.
These efforts reflect our strategy of targeted community investments to advance equity and access across the workforce system. As we look ahead, we reaffirm our dedication to these goals, working with employers, community organizations, labor, and educators to build an equitable and prosperous workforce system.
Key Outputs
Total Funding
$18,519,481
Total Services
81,216
Staff-Assisted Services
70,267
Self-Services
10,949
Job Seekers Served
33,945
Employers Served
2,549
See the state-level outcomes dashboard.
A Closer Look at Who We Serve
Bridge for those without College Education: 43.3% of our customers have a high school education or less, reflecting our efforts to help individuals navigate into sustainable employment and improved living conditions, irrespective of educational background.
Clients Early in Their Careers: 39% of our clients are aged 34 or younger, representing the future of the regional workforce as they begin their journeys in the workforce.
Reaching Beyond Urban Centers: 52.8% of our customers reside outside Seattle, with only 37% living within the city. This broad reach ensures that individuals that have been displaced by the city’s rapidly rising costs of living still have access to support services.
Bottom Line: We’re serving people who have less formal education, who can’t afford to live in Seattle, and who are younger.
Highlighting Needs for Additional Investment in Translation Support
Fatima joined the barista training program to gain food and beverage industry experience. She quickly mastered coffee-making and excelled in customer service, becoming a standout participant. Beyond her personal growth, Fatima built community by translating, interpreting, and mentoring new peers in Somali, significantly enhancing their learning. Her contributions highlight the need for continued language services support within our system.
Partner in Employment Out-of-School Youth
Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act
Workforce System Insights
Not Just the Formal System: Although an important part of our service offerings for clients with intensive needs are offered through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) programming, most individuals we serve are not active WIOA program enrollees (32,500 out of 33,945). In fact, the workforce system provides a much broader range of services beyond what is required by WIOA, and the data reflects that.
Personalized Assistance at the Core: 86.5% of our services involve direct staff assistance (70,267 out of 81,216 services), ensuring that customers receive meaningful, one-on-one support from a dedicated team of experts.
Comprehensive Jobseeker Support: An average customer receives 2-3 services, from resume writing to job training. This multi-service, braided approach ensures individuals receive the varied support they need to succeed.
Bottom Line: We’re working to transform our system beyond traditional program boundaries, offering personalized, multifaceted support to a broad array of job seekers, ensuring everyone receives the tailored assistance they need to thrive in the workforce.
Utilizing Multiple Resources to Build Self-Sufficiency
In February 2023, Maria was referred to Uplift Northwest by an Employment Specialist at a local women’s shelter. Facing challenges related to a long absence from the workforce, Maria found hope and support at the Uplift Northwest Learning Center.
Maria completed the orientation and engaged in various professional development opportunities, earning certifications in Food Safety, Mandatory Alcohol Server Training (MAST), and Financial Literacy. She also completed a Digital Literacy course, receiving a laptop and hotspot, greatly enhancing her educational and employment opportunities.
Maria credits the comprehensive resources at Uplift Northwest for her transformation. The educational opportunities and resources have empowered her to pursue long-term stability and meaningful employment.
Uplift Northwest
Digital Navigator Program
Engaging & Empowering Employers
Partnership & Events
The Seattle-King County Business Services Team (BST) has strengthened local partnerships with Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development organizations to better serve businesses and job seekers in underserved King County areas. The team spearheaded a collaboration with the Seattle Southside Chamber and Economic Development Managers from Burien, SeaTac, and Tukwila. This effort culminated in a large-scale hiring and resource event on April 13, 2023, attracting 29 employers and 280 job seekers. This was the first significant in-person event in the area since 2020, with BST assisting with employer registration and the City of Burien providing the venue.
Rapid Response
On August 15, 2022, Norgren GT requested a Rapid Response presentation for 185 employees facing layoffs, many of whom were non-native English speakers with seven different languages represented. The team organized nine presentations on August 23 and 24, 2022, with seven specifically tailored for Limited English Proficiency (LEP) employees. Collaborating with TRAC Associates, Pacific Associates, ACRS, and Neighborhood House, BST provided necessary translation services.
Additionally, the team supported Cascade Behavioral Health Hospital (CBHH) by organizing an onsite career fair for 288 dislocated workers due to the facility’s closure. Leveraging BST’s network, 18 healthcare providers attended the job fair on June 21, 2023, offering reemployment opportunities to 90 dislocated workers. The Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) was also present to support unionized nurses, with BST providing layoff support services and information.
Advocating for Policy Changes
Digital Equity: As part of the National Skills Coalition, the WDC participated in a panel discussion at a Capitol Hill Briefing at the U.S. Senate on digital equity. We advocated for the passage of the WA Digital Equity Act and secured a Digital Navigator Cohort Grant, marking our initial steps towards bridging the digital divide in King County. Additionally, we became an active participant in the region's digital equity planning process by releasing the Digital Needs Assessment Tool and Digital Equity Asset Map, and helping conduct a statewide Digital Equity Survey to learn from frontline staff across all 12 local workforce boards.
Economic Security for All (EcSA): This initiative is aimed at creating locally developed strategies to uplift economic opportunity for low-income families and individuals. While advocating to solidify this initiative into law, the WDC centered its EcSA efforts on BIPOC and immigrant & refugee communities, building the Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot to support.
Benefits Cliff: WDC aims to align program benefits with the reality individuals face when public benefits are reduced due to income. In collaboration with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, WDC implemented the CLIFF (Career Ladder Identifier & Financial Forecaster) Dashboard and Planner in the Seattle-King County region, the first workforce development board in Washington state to do so.
Bottom Line: To provide the best opportunities for people who face economic disadvantages, our legislative policy efforts focused on advocating for equitable skills development and removing barriers to economic mobility.
Read more about our victories from the 2023 legislative session.
Meeting with Representative Vandana Slatter (center) with workforce development leaders, including WDC Seattle-King CEO Marie Kurose (left), at Washington State Legislative Day in January 2023.
Meeting with the Department of Commerce and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) staff organized by the National Skills Coalition to discuss the Digital Equity Act and funding for the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program.
Key Highlights
What difference can $500 make?
Program Highlight: Reimagining Workforce Safety Net
In Fall 2022, we launched a pilot program to provide $500 monthly payments to individuals affected by poverty, including people with low-income, students, and justice-involved adults. This financial support aimed to reduce poverty by bridging gaps to careers, housing, and education.
After 10 months, what kind of impact did this support have?
Media
Coverage
Bridging digital gaps in a post-pandemic world
Program Highlight: Centering Digital Equity
In February 2023, we launched the Digital Navigator program, aiming to improve digital equity in King County by amplifying community access to affordable internet and devices, along with digital skills training.
Approaches were tailored to the unique digital needs of each community, from disseminating laptops and securing internet access to boosting digital literacy.
We also launched an AmeriCorps Digital Navigator pilot at WorkSource Rainier and WorkSource Auburn.
Building Bridges to New Community Partnerships
Empowering Confidence and Community
Luis began attending Spanish-language digital literacy classes at Casa Latina in February. As a day laborer with modest computer skills and no reliable internet access, he faced significant challenges in completing his GED and furthering his studies.
In the early weeks, Luis often brought friends to class, helping them register and complete modules. Eventually, Luis also began practicing on his own, building confidence at his own pace. Luis ultimately scored a 97% on an assessment needed to earn a certificate and a computer of his own through Casa Latina’s laptop distribution program.
Luis is now considering rejoining the Seattle Colleges’ GED program and starting a reading and translation group at Casa Latina.
Casa Latina
Digital Navigator Program
Embracing Every Milestone
Noah, a 24-year-old with autism, joined the digital navigation program at Friendship Circle in January 2023 with no prior computer experience. Despite the challenges, he has attended every session, working through Northstar Digital Literacy modules, focusing on typing skills and internet safety.
Recently, Noah sent his first email to his father—a significant milestone for Noah—marking his newfound ability to communicate and engage with the world.
This training and support are helping Noah build essential life skills, enabling him to participate more fully in the community and embark on a new phase of his adult life.
Friendship Circle
Digital Navigator Program
Meeting Community and Cultivating Trust
Abdi, a new arrival seeking asylum, faced challenges due to limited digital skills and lack of computer and internet access. Abdi joined the program with the goal of improving his digital literacy and maintaining communication with his family back home.
To help individuals like Abdi, East African Community Services (EACS) built community trust by collaborating with local mosques and community leaders, conducting outreach and information sessions to assure the community of the program's benefits and ease concerns about potential impacts to immigration status.
Abdi successfully completed the digital skills class, gaining essential technological knowledge, and was provided with a laptop and free internet access. These resources allowed Abdi to bridge the communication gap with his family, providing much-needed emotional support throughout his asylum application process.
East African Community Services
Digital Navigator Program
Board
Our board is composed of leaders from business, labor, youth and adult education, state and local government agencies, and community-based organizations.
Partners
Our partners are a diverse group with programmatic expertise in workforce development and deep connections with the communities they serve.
Staff
Our team is committed to driving transformative change across the Puget Sound region. We collaborate with businesses, labor groups, educational institutions, nonprofits, and a broad spectrum of community stakeholders. Together, we strive to create a prosperous, inclusive economy where economic growth and opportunities are accessible to everyone, irrespective of race or ethnicity.
Annual Report Archive
View annual reports from 2016-2023. Also see Tax Form 990s and audit financial reports.
Our Funders
At WDC, we are profoundly grateful for the generous support of our funders. Your commitment and contributions make it possible for us to pursue our mission and make a positive impact in our community. Together, we are transforming lives and creating lasting change.
Thank you for being an essential part of our journey.
