The WDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization governed by a volunteer board appointed by the King
County Executive and Seattle Mayor. The WDC works to provide a world
class workforce training and development system for the residents
and employers of King County.
The WDC serves as a research
and development center for workforce issues, sharing our expertise
with the community and leading partnerships. We invest and participate
in strategic initiatives to strengthen our economy and ensure that
all residents have the opportunity to achieve success.
The WDC leads the WorkSource
system in King County, seamlessly linking its own employment and
training efforts with those of the private sector, community organizations,
colleges, labor groups and government. WorkSource centers and affiliates
throughout King County offer valuable information and resources,
in addition to active job matching, development of jobseeker skills
and training to fit business needs. For youth, we lead a comprehensive
youth development system that includes internships, mentoring, work-based
learning and job opportunities.
Leadership
The WDC board, with about 40 members, is a committed, active group
that is made up of a majority from the private sector, as well as
leaders from labor, community-based agencies, education, and government.
Board members serve on a minimum of one sub-committee, which meet
about nine times a year. In addition, the full membership of the
WDC board meets three times a year, including our annual meeting
in June. Click on the button below for more information about our
board and committees
Staff
Our dedicated staff is what make WDC so successfull in meeting the
demands of our providers and the region as a whole. Click on the
button below for a complete listing of our current staff.
Programs
A major focus of the Workforce Development Council is to serve the
workforce development needs of businesses
and employers. Our system provides a wide variety of
business services throughout the county, while our board identifies
specific sectors on which we concentrate more intensive resources.
The WDC also plays a critical role in convening industry, education
and labor leaders around industry-specific issues, finding solutions
to the problems identified by the partners.
The WDC’s core business is to improve the ability of King
County’s workforce to meet the demands of industry. We serve
adult jobseekers
through our WorkSource sites and through many innovative programs
designed for specific populations and needs. The WDC’s youth
programs serve youth aged 14 to 21 (youth over 18 can
be served in our adult programs) and prepare them for the continuing
education and the workforce.
WorkSource
is a system throughout the state that delivers employment and training
services for adults making career transitions—including dislocated
workers—as well as employers. The WDC oversees and sets the
direction of the WorkSource system in Seattle-King County. Services
are free of charge and designed to assist customers meet their individual
goals, ranging from self-service information on job openings, to
career counseling, to training.
Reports and Publications
The WDC publishes reports and publications concerning various labor,
industry and and workforce issues. Access the WDC’s library
on the reportsby clicking on the button below.
Press Center
The WDC Press Center is a great resource for members of the press
seeking: information on workforce development locally and nationwide;
local implications for state or national policy decisions that affect
the workforce; and, connections to local organizations that provide
employment and training services and to employers who are engaged
in workforce solutions. Click on the button below to go to our Press
Center
Performance
Reports
The WDC’s investment strategy is similar in spirit to a venture
capitalist: we fund initiatives that are innovative and targeted
and that have proven results. The WDC uses a rigorous procurement
process and follows up with monitoring and evaluation to ensure
the best services and results for our customers. In the current
year, the WDC has made an important investment in workers who obtain
employment and employers who produce jobs. Click below to learn
more about the WDC’s financial investments in our workforce
developments systems.
Employment Opportunities
Check out current job opportunities at the Workforce Development
Council.
Calendar
See our calendar for upcoming committee and full board meetings
and agendas, as well as other WDC events.
