A hand holds a pen over printed bar charts, next to a phone with its calculator open.
For Employers

Fill the roles you keep refilling.

Recruitment, training, and retention support for King County employers—at no cost to your business. We work with the region’s hiring partners so you don’t have to find them one at a time.

Where things stand

You post the role, you interview, you train someone up, and a year later you are doing it again. Meanwhile thousands of King County residents are ready for exactly that job and never hear about it.

The talent is already here. The connection is what’s missing.

The plan

How it works

  1. Identify—We start with the jobs you can’t fill, the skills you can’t find, and the turnover you can’t explain. One conversation, no obligation.

  2. Connect—Training grants for the team you have, interns and work experience for the team you’re building, and support if you have to downsize. For recruiting and hiring events, we connect you to WorkSource business services.

  3. Advance—We work on the job itself, not just the hire. Better wages, schedules, and paths upward are what keep the seat filled.

Hiring now? WorkSource Seattle-King County business services can help you post jobs, find candidates, and join hiring events.

What you get

Four ways we show up.

Every one of these services is free to King County employers.

Employee training grants

Funding to train and upskill the team you already have, so you can promote from within.

Ask about a grant

Host an intern

Paid internships and work experience that bring new talent in the door and let you try before you hire.

Host an intern

Help during layoffs

Rapid response for your team if you have to downsize, so people land somewhere.

Get rapid response

Small business investment

Grants and free monthly workshops on hiring, payroll, budgeting, and branding.

Invest in your business
Job quality

A better job is a cheaper job to fill.

Fair pay, stable hours, and a path upward are what end the hiring cycle. Six things make a quality job, and we will help you work on any of them.

Fair wages

Family-sustaining pay, stable and predictable income, and opportunities to build wealth and assets.

Safe workplaces

Inclusive, healthy, and accessible conditions that are free from discrimination and harassment.

Economic mobility

Clear pathways for advancement with paid training and development opportunities.

Comprehensive benefits

Health insurance, paid leave, retirement savings, and disability coverage that support overall well-being.

Job stability

Reliable scheduling and secure employment that fosters fairness and confidence in the workplace.

Equity, respect & voice

Transparency and accountability that value employee input, promote belonging, and welcome workers’ ideas.

Definitions adapted with credit to the Families and Workers Fund and the Aspen Institute.

Sound Jobs

Great hospitality starts with great jobs.

Sound Jobs partners with King County hospitality employers to lift morale and productivity, hold onto good people, and improve the bottom line. No cost to your business.

The results

What employers get out of it

14,000+ King County employers connected to talent since 2000
1,200+ businesses started working with our business services team since July 2023
$1.5M+ invested directly in King County small businesses through the Community Reinvestment Program
Employer spotlight

When local flavor meets local support.

“The CRF was instrumental in turning my vision into reality. It addressed critical startup needs, such as inventory and payroll for new hires, allowing me to lay a strong foundation for sustainable growth.”

Youpa ValentineCEO, Jumpin Jambalaya

  • Received a WDC Small Business Investment Grant through the Community Reinvestment Project
  • Used it for startup inventory and payroll for new hires
  • Built her business with support from YWCA and Highline College StartZone
Read Youpa’s story
Your next step

Start with the role you can’t fill.

Tell us what you are hiring for and we will tell you what the region already has to help. Expert advice is one conversation away.