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Higher Education and the Labor Market

Washington's colleges and career training programs benefit our state, regional, and local economies by:

  • Providing a trained and educated workforce with the skills employers need.
  • Addressing the changing educational demands of an evolving society.
  • Collaborating with business, industry, and government to drive innovation.
  • Conducting research that spurs business creation and expands jobs.

Higher Education and Labor Market Alignment

An educated workforce is vital for a prosperous society. In Washington, nearly 70 percent of all projected job openings require at least some education beyond high school. Two-thirds require a certificate, associate degree, or higher. For this reason, it is imperative to align education outcomes with labor market demands.

Every two years, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTB), and the Association of Washington Business (AWB) produce the Washington State Higher Education and Labor Market (HELM) Report, formerly known as Washington's Skilled and Educated Workforce Report. 

The HELM report has four primary purposes: 

  1. to assess how well the state’s postsecondary education system is aligned with the demands of the labor market, 
  2. to identify key drivers of employer demand in the various occupational clusters, 
  3. to highlight industries and occupational fields in which students and adult learners may find expanding employment opportunities, and 
  4. to explore factors, such as the advance of workplace automation, which are impacting the labor market.

Reskilling and Upskilling

Opportunities to reskill and upskill are crucial for workers’ career stability and advancement.

  • Reskilling is learning a new set of skills or obtaining a credential in another field. The goal is transitioning to a different job or industry.
  • Upskilling is learning additional skills, enhancing abilities, or acquiring new credentials within one's field. The goal is to increase duties and wages in the same line of work. 

These options are critical for workers who may be displaced due to the pandemic. WSAC’s report, Strategies for a Changing Labor Market: Reskilling and Upskilling for Career Advancement in the Post-COVID-19 Economy, highlights the importance of seamless credential pathways. The report presents recommendations to ensure workers can access these opportunities for a sustained and equitable recovery.