Employment Security Department celebrates National Workforce Development Month

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OLYMPIA – September marks National Workforce Development Month – an opportunity for the Employment Security Department to celebrate the significant effect workforce development programs have had in:

  • Building our economy.
  • Creating a pipeline to good, quality jobs.
  • Supporting underserved communities.

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) created Workforce Development Month in 2005. The organization aimed to bring together business, labor, education and other critical partners to showcase the impact workforce programs have on the American workforce.

Employment Security is one of many agencies and organizations that serve Washington’s workforce, which includes people who are either working or looking for work. Using the agency’s core values of access, love, belonging, equity and stewardship, Employment Security contributes to healthy communities by aiming to provide people equitable access to resources that improve economic security.

“Workforce Development Month helps us to showcase all the important pieces that play a vital role in supporting Washington’s workforce needs,” Employment Security Commissioner Cami Feek said.

Washington’s workforce development system

In Washington, a key part of our workforce development system is called WorkSource. It’s a statewide partnership of state, local and nonprofit agencies. A network of WorkSource offices across the state provide employment and training services to job seekers and employers.

In addition to Employment Security, the WorkSource system includes:

These regional partnerships make each WorkSource office unique. They cater to local customers – job seekers and employers – with hiring events, training programs and community resources.

The Washington Workforce Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of 12 local Workforce Development Boards. Those boards aim to advance the economic health of their communities through a skilled workforce.

Employment Security provides unemployment and paid family and medical leave benefits to eligible claimants, detailed labor-market information and analysis and more.

Washington’s Workforce Board, made up of nine governor-appointed members, advises the governor and state Legislature on workforce development policy. It makes sure the state’s workforce services and programs work together and it evaluates their performance.

“Together, we have our eyes on our customers,” Feek said. “We support them as they look for work and when they need to take time away. We make the job market accessible and help train them for their next job.”