Washington Jobs Initiative
The Washington Jobs Initiative (WJI) has awarded eight sectoral partnerships with funds totaling nearly $17 million to train and place over 3,000 Washingtonians into good jobs with a family-sustaining wage in 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) will help more Washington residents access industry-driven training to secure a good job with a family sustaining wage. More than 70 percent of jobs created in Washington State need a postsecondary credential, but only about 40 percent of young people currently have one.
WJI was created to help more students pursue good-paying jobs after high school by enrolling in registered apprenticeships and technical training programs. The initiative 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 receive education and training
- 3,150 people are employed in quality jobs
- Prioritize serving historically underserved populations, including but not limited to women; Black, Latino, Indigenous and Native American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander individuals; and anyone unduly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
These partnerships will span ten high-demand sectors:
- Advanced Manufacturing & Aerospace
- Clean Technology & Energy
- Construction
- Finance
- Health Care
- Information Technology & Cybersecurity
- Life Science
- Maritime
- Education
- Agriculture & Natural Resources
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 will offer competitive awards and invest in industry-sector partnerships. These partnerships span labor, K-12, higher education, nonprofits, and tribes. Partners will provide training and paid work-based learning. Together, we will help thousands of Washington residents find a career with a family-sustaining wage.
Lead partners
Sub-awardees
