WDC Sector Initiatives

The WDC is a leader in workforce initiatives for specific industry sectors. We bring together employers, industry associations, colleges, unions, and government entities to together identify a sector's workforce challenges and take steps to address them.

NEW!  Map Your Career

These diagrams show occupations, wages and needed training for all five of the WDC's sectors, so anyone can plan a path to a rewarding career.   (Each diagram is also available under the specific sectors listed below.)

• Map Your Career Template

1. Information Technology
2. Health Care 
3. Manufacturing
4. Construction 
5. Biotechnology/Life Sciences

How Did We Choose These Five Sectors?

The WDC annually reviews the industry sectors in King County to determine which we should choose for our workforce development efforts, and what those strategies should be.

Based on direction from our Strategic Planning Committee, WDC staff use a set of ten criteria to research, collect data and prioritize local industries.

The four essential measures are:

1. Commitment of employers and/or labor to develop the workforce and contribute resources.
2. Workforce is critical issue to industry.
3. Industry is important to the economic development of Seattle-King County .
4. The WDC has the ability and a leverage point to address industry workforce issues.

In addition to the "first tier" measures listed above, staff also considers an additional six factors:

5. Existence of an industry intermediary/association.
6. Degree of demand for workers through employment growth or attrition.
7. Nature of the demand for workers, is it time-limited, immediate, intermediate (2 - 4 years out), or is it a future demand for workers.
8. Does the industry provide wage progression and career ladder opportunities that can lead toward self-sufficiency.
9. Are there parallel efforts underway that the WDC can leverage or partner with.
10. Level of participation of training and education institutions.