info@wsac.wa.gov | (360) 753-7800

Washington Jobs Initiative

Impact Highlights

Figures as of March 2025.
 

An icon of hands receiving funds An icon of a graduate An icon of a computer screen An icon of a briefcase An icon of a chart showing growth

$23.5 Million

3,587

1,604

1,181

5 Industries

In federal funding secured

Washington residents enrolled in training

Program completions achieved

Participants placed in jobs

Driving economic growth

The Washington Jobs Initiative (WJI) has given nearly $17 million to eight job training partnerships. These funds are training and placing over 3,000 people in Washington into good jobs across five key industries. Construction; Healthcare; Advanced Manufacturing & Aerospace; Clean Technology & Energy; and Information Technology and Cybersecurity.

Sectoral Partnership Backbone Organization Industry Sector Award Job Placements
Aerospace and Manufacturing Sector Partnership Machinists Institute Advanced Manufacturing & Aerospace $2,000,000 275
Construct A Career WA State Building and Construction Trades Council Construction $2,500,000 515
Healthcare Talent Pipeline Spokane Workforce Development Council Healthcare $2,000,000 350
JumpStart King County Clean Technology & Energy $598,000 80
Manufacturing WORKS WorkForce Central & AJAC Advanced Manufacturing & Aerospace $1,770,000 380
Pierce Spokane Construction WORKS WorkForce Central Construction $1,225,000 220
TRIAGE SEIU Healthcare Healthcare $2,000,000 417
Washington Technology Workforce Coalition Computing for All Information Technology & Cybersecurity $4,875,000 1,000

About the Washington Jobs Initiative

The Washington Jobs Initiative (WJI) is designed to help more Washington residents get the training they need for good jobs that can support a family.  In Washington State, over 70 percent of jobs created require education or training after high school. Currently, only about 40 percent of young people have those credentials. 

WJI helps students access registered apprenticeships and technical training programs. The program is supported by a $23.5 million Good Jobs Challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration. 

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), in collaboration with Career Connect Washington, will draw on current partnerships and programs to meet WJI’s goals by 2025:

  • 5,000 people will receive education and training.
  • 3,150 people will be placed in quality jobs.
  • The program will focus on people who have been historically underserved. This includes, but is not limited to, women; Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American, Pacific Islander individuals; and anyone unduly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
     

The following partners are included in the WJI award:

  • Lead: Washington Student Achievement Council in partnership with Career Connect Washington
  • Sub-awardees:
    • Washington State Office of Equity
    • Employment Security Department
    • Washington State Labor Council
    • Washington STEM

With a focus on equity, WJI offers competitive awards and invests in industry-sector partnerships. These partnerships span labor, K-12, higher education, nonprofits, and tribes. Partners provide training and some paid work-based learning. Together, we will help thousands of Washington residents find a career with a family-sustaining wage.

Lead partners

Career Connect Washington, Washington Student Achievement Council, and Good Jobs Challenge logos

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sub-awardees

WJI Sub-awardee logos