What’s New at WDC
News, success stories, and important updates from across our programs, partners, and communities.
Built to Lead: Celebrating the 2026 Workforce Practitioners Academy Graduates
What happens when you give the people doing this work — the case managers, employment specialists, navigators, and vocational counselors who show up every day for job seekers rebuilding their lives — the tools, language, and community to do it even better?
The Workforce Practitioners Academy, a professional development initiative run in partnership with WorkSource Seattle–King County, celebrated this cohort’s program graduation to strengthen the skills and professional practice of frontline workforce staff across the region.
Marie Kurose on Confronting Racial Barriers in Workforce, Education & Industry
"We have seen great wealth generation in this city. But we have been gutting middle-class jobs and excluding people of color," says Marie Kurose, executive director of the Seattle- King County Workforce Development Council (WDC), the backbone of the many programs that train and place people in jobs. She adds, "Marginalized people have not been reaping the benefits of this economic growth."
King County Executive & City of Seattle Spotlight the Efforts of the Workforce Development Council
King County and City of Seattle are transforming the workforce system to connect more people to high-demand jobs. The new model will better align funding to help people who face barriers to employment and help ensure that employers have the well-trained workforce they need to remain competitive in the global economy.