Information Technology

Micorsoft Partnership

The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County has partnered with Microsoft Corp. since 2005 to bring free computer-training courses and certification training to WorkSource customers across the state. Thanks to Microsoft’s support and partnership, jobseekers at WorkSource in Seattle-King County have particularly benefited from software, instructors and vouchers for free certification training.

Elevate America

In 2009, building on our Unlimited Potential partnership (see below), Microsoft turned to the WDC and WorkSource to help distribute vouchers for free e-learning courses and exams.

Microsoft’s Elevate America program is a partnership between Microsoft and states across the country, part of Microsoft’s effort to help train 2 million people over the next three years. The goal of Elevate America is to improve access to education and workforce-readiness skills required for 21st-century jobs. The program provides basic technology literacy and skills training through online eLearning courses.

Through the WDC of Seattle-King County, 4,681 free vouchers for courses such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Office Specialist and basic learning. Through a separate process, WorkSource distributed an additional 30,000 vouchers statewide.

Unlimited Potential

Microsoft, the WDC and WorkSource partnered to bring Microsoft’s free, versatile computer-training courses to thousands WorkSource customers, while paving the way for the program’s rollout nationwide.

Microsoft designed its Unlimited Potential computer training courses to be donated to community centers for the benefit of people whose lack of computer skills is a barrier to work or self-sufficiency. In 2005, when the WDC heard that the company was interested in offering the courses in one-stop systems (such as WorkSource), we offered to test Unlimited Potential in the company’s own back yard.

The WDC coordinated the statewide pilot program, distributing Microsoft-donated software and curriculum to the 21 pilot WorkSource sites and working with instructors and tech support staff.

The WDC is thankful to have been the recipient of $460,000 in UP cash grants from Microsoft Community Affairs over the past four years to support instructor staff. That’s a cost per jobseeker of just $49.

UP Impact

Since 2005, 8,127 job seekers have completed UP courses in King County and another 1,205 have been served in resource rooms and study labs. Many are laid-off workers over age 55 whose lack of computer skills has been a serious barrier to employment.

The need remains high, with 5,000 of those served in 2009 alone—an increase of 69% over 2008. The most popular module is Computer Fundamentals.

The WorkSource system in Washington state gained free, customizable computer-training courses to meet the growing need for computer skills and computer literacy training in the workforce. The donated software upgrades and curricula donated will enable WorkSource to offer Unlimited Potential to customers for years to come.

Connect to computer classes at WorkSource