Did You Know...

100,000
estimated annual number served through WorkSource Portland Metro

11,720
the number of additional unemployed workers with a 1% increase in the region's unemployment rate

 

"In this dynamic and competitive economic environment, workforce development systems can help nations, regions and communities improve economic growth, reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development." Professor Michael E. Porter, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Businss School
System Building

System Building

Region

Workforce development is not a program. Rather, workforce development is a collection of education, private sector, and governmental policies, investments and activities intended to foster individual, organizational and economic success. As such, coordination between workforce development efforts, agencies, employers and service providers is essential. By pursuing a systems approach to workforce development, the region improves its ability to leverage and layer funding streams, to coordinate strategies, resources and programs to link supply and demand, and enable life long learning and advancement.

 

In building a regional system, Worksystems adheres to the following principles:

Commitment to Skill Development and Living Wage Jobs

We know that a combined focus on skill development in high-wage/high-demand occupations coupled with support services is a proven way to close skills gaps, build talent, increase earnings and is essential to move people to self-sufficiency. It is also critical to ensuring that business have the workers they need to grow and prosper in the 21st century economy

Resource and Service Coordination

WorkSource Portland Metro (WSPM) provides the foundation of the region’s primary public workforce efforts and creates the opportunity to connect and coordinate a variety of programs and services. WorkSource centers create a single point of entry for anyone looking for workforce training or placement and a single point of contact for employers looking for workers. WorkSource fosters the coordination and capacity development that leads to service integration, resource alignment and lasting solutions.

Concentrate Resources on Programs that Offer Measurable Results

A system that creates accountability with common metrics is essential for making data-driven decisions for improving the workforce system. Regional indicators of performance must be regularly measured, demonstrate the impact of investments over a reasonable time horizon and not duplicate existing measures or add significantly to existing reporting requirements.