Job quality is central to our mission. For employers, it’s essential for retaining employees and fostering satisfaction. By promoting fair wages, supportive environments, and growth opportunities, we help businesses build productive teams, driving long-term success and a thriving workforce.

We're proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 Small Business Investment Grant. After reviewing over 450 applications, 40 small businesses and nonprofits —predominantly owned and operated by individuals from Black, urban Indian/Tribal, and Latine communities— have been selected to receive grants of up to $15,000 each. The Small Business Investment Grant aims to help these organizations build capacity, support worker retention, and foster long-term economic growth and sustainability. In addition to financial assistance, awardees will receive ongoing guidance through coaching, consulting, and access to resources designed to enhance their business operations and community impact.

We are excited to announce that we have joined the National Skills Coalition’s newly formed WIOA Advisory Council. This council brings together over 20 leaders from 13 states and two tribal nations to help shape the future of the nation’s workforce system, just as Congress moves toward reauthorizing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

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.

We were honored to welcome Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA 9) to WorkSource Rainier last month, where he joined us for an engaging discussion on the future of workforce development in Seattle-King County. During the visit, Congressman Smith took a deep dive into key topics shaping our region, including how youth are accessing vocational training, the importance of community partnerships, and the role of employers in building a strong workforce pipeline. We also showcased the impactful work of our multilingual and culturally responsive team at WorkSource Rainier, where staff members speak 26 languages, helping to meet the diverse needs of job seekers.

In 2023, Jobs for the Future (JFF) and the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) formed the Task Force on Data, Access, Alignment, and Integration for Improved Workforce Outcomes, an executive task force formed from workforce development boards across the country, to explore how federal policies can better utilize existing workforce systems to deliver people-first, equity-centered results for all. Marie Kurose, CEO of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, was honored to serve as a member of this task force. The principles and recommendations outlined in this report lean into the power of the nation’s workforce development system while remaining locally responsive and data-driven.

The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County is proud to announce its participation in the National Skills Coalition’s Infrastructure Equity Policy Project. This initiative aims to train the next generation of infrastructure and clean energy workers by advancing policies in multiple states that intentionally open doors to millions of people, particularly women and workers of color, who seek new career opportunities.

A new study illuminates the growing digital divide exacerbated by the pandemic, particularly impacting non-native English speakers and individuals without access to technology. This comprehensive research highlights the significant, measurable benefits of community-based digital navigation support, demonstrating how effectively tailored services can bridge the digital divide in marginalized communities.

We’re utilizing Digital Navigators to advance digital equity in preparation for upcoming BEAD-supported programs. Collaborating with various digital equity partners, WDC has also joined forces with Comcast, who has generously donated $60,000, to support the deployment of two Digital Navigators at WorkSource locations. This collaboration signifies a collective commitment to bridging the digital divide, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring that the benefits of technology reach all corners of our community.

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.

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.

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.

The passage of SB 5236, HB 1451, and HB 1525 represents significant achievements in advancing the WDC's policy priorities. These legislative victories highlight the commitment of Washington state to foster job quality, support workforce development, and address critical issues in healthcare, childcare, and apprenticeship programs. The impact of these bills will be felt across Seattle-King County and beyond.

"We have seen great wealth generation in this city. But we have been gutting middle-class jobs and excluding people of color," says Marie Kurose, executive director of the Seattle- King County Workforce Development Council (WDC), the backbone of the many programs that train and place people in jobs. She adds, "Marginalized people have not been reaping the benefits of this economic growth."

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.

Seattle, WA (February 23, 2023) – The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) has awarded $650,000 to twelve community-based organizations to support coordinated services to improve digital equity in the Seattle-King County region. The grant, funded by the Washington State Department of Commerce and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, will amplify community access to affordable internet, devices, and digital skills training.

The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County (WDC) is thrilled to embark on our WorkSource Site Certification process for current sites. The purpose of this post is to provide supporting documents and the process timeline for reference along the way. WorkSource Site Certification criteria is based on the Washington State Employment Security Department's One Stop Evaluation and Certification Policy.

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.

Neighborhood House received $275,000 in Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funding thanks to Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. This new investment is part of an additional $4.1 million in federal funding for key projects Congresswoman Jayapal secured for our region.

We have been on a long and trying road together in the nearly two years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Take a deep breath—this is one of the most extraordinary times in our history, and the disproportionate racial impact on the community has been heartbreaking. At the risk of stating the obvious, we must get the pandemic under control to ease the suffering. But let us be real with you: our vision of an equitable workforce system centering racial equity is incompatible with the pre-pandemic status quo.