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Industry Sector Initiatives
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Industry Sector Initiatives
Worksystems, Inc. and its partners are listening to what business
has to say about training and other workforce needs. In collaboration
with regional companies, industry associations, business leaders,
labor and training partners, we are able to access and leverage
resources to deliver cutting-edge solutions in a way that enhances
productivity for employers and career opportunities for workers.
The following section and links will help you learn more about
the sectoral work. If you would like to participate or learn more,
please contact WSI's
Business & Industry Team at 503.478.7300. Current Sector Initiatives Worksystems, Inc. is engaged in a number of sector initiatives that are making a difference in our regional economy. We work with key sectors to help them analyze labor market information, project their workforce needs, market their industry, access grants, subsidies, tax credits, and craft workforce solutions that reduce expenses and help the bottom line. Worksystems selects high-growth, high demand business and industry sectors to work with that offer a path to self-sufficiency, career advancement and retention. We select sectors based on their current and demand projections over the next ten years. The sectors that we currently are working with include both traded and non-traded sectors, and are:
Sector initiatives solve industry staffing problems while improving jobs and increasing advancement for low-income people and low wage workers in that industry. Sector initiatives share four common elements. They:
Creative Industries The creative industry includes firms involved in the development of software, multi-media, film and video, graphic arts, architecture, fashion, industrial design, interior design, landscape architecture and advertising/public relations. WSI and the City of Portland have partnered on a number of projects to support growth of the region's creative services industry. "Creativity has come to be valued because new technologies; new industries, new wealth and all other good economic things flow from it." Richard Florida, The Rise of the Creative Class Find out how well Portland is positioned to compete for the mobile and economically important workers known as the creative class: "The Young and the Restless: How Portland Competes for Talent (pdf)". Creative Services Industry in Portland
*Compiled from the ABI Business Directory **Estimated based on various business directory listings Portland Development Commission- Target Industry Development Micro-Enterprise Grants WSI, former City of Portland Mayor Katz and Mercy Corps Northwest piloted a Professional Development Grant program funded by the City's Bureau of Housing and Community Development. In March 2004, thirteen artists and designers were awarded grants of up to $750 to enhance their creative micro-enterprises. WSI and current City of Portland Mayor Potter's Office will soon be announcing the 15 recipients of a 2nd round of grants the City's Bureau of Housing and Community Development has funded. These micro-enterprise funds provide grants to artists, designers, and entrepreneurs to increase assets and attract and retain talent.
Portland's Economic Development Strategy: Creative Services (pdf) (2002) Original report on the Creative Services Industry in Portland: "Designing Portland's Future: The Role of the Creative Services Industry (pdf)" (1999) Creative Industry organization links:
High Tech Manufacturing High Tech manufacturing in the Portland metropolitan area includes:
Hospitality & Tourism This is a high growth industry in Portland Metro Region. The sector includes employers in arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services. Current employment in Multnomah and Washington counties is estimated at 15,155 with a projected growth of 17.5% over the next ten years with about 3,200 jobs anticipated. Worksystems works with the Oregon Restaurant Association and individual employers in this industry to craft innovative workforce solutions. Recently, employers from this sector participated in an employer forum to provide feedback on a new assessment tool to be used by the youth workforce agency providers in region 2 to determine readiness for work and provide an employability certificate that will aid employers in recruitment. top of page Health Care The health care sector includes hospitals, ambulatory health care services, nursing and residential care facilities, and home health care workers. The current employment in Multnomah County is 32,020 or 9% of the county employment and 11,182 in Washington County, or 6% of the county's employment. The growth projection for the next 10 years is 25.3%. The following are examples of work within this sector. Providence Youth Academy In 2002 and 2003, Worksystems Inc. and Providence Health Systems piloted a successful program for bringing vulnerable youth into the healthcare workforce. Of the 81 youth from WSI's youth programs who entered the program:
Worksystems, Inc. assisted a private/public partnership in the delivery of Certified Nursing Assistant and Certified Medical Assistant training to 40 incumbent workers at Oregon Health & Sciences University. The workers advanced their careers from positions in housekeeping, facilities, food service and administrative support. Career Center Development Worksystems, Inc. assisted Oregon Health Sciences University, along with a number of partners, in developing a training center for OHSU's incumbent workers. During 2002 and 2003, 65 workers received training at the center which resulted in promotions and an average wage gain of over 13%. Healthcare Career Advancement Training Public housing residents received Certified Nursing Assistant training through a public private partnership coordinated by Worksystems, Inc. The nearly 50 trainees entered the training with hiring commitments from local hospitals and long term care facilities. Employer Workforce Training Funds Worksystems, Inc. is the fiscal agent for the Employer Workforce Training Funds. These funds assist with skills upgrades and education for incumbent workers. Healthcare is a priority sector for these funds. For more information, or to be included in the bidders list for upcoming RFPs, please email Nancy Davis. Grant Proposal Worksystems, Inc. developed a grant proposal in partnership with major health systems in NW Oregon and SW Washington. The proposal is currently being reviewed by the Department of Labor. If funded, it will develop a pipeline of qualified workers for high demand occupations in the healthcare industry. Board of Directors Participation Worksystems, Inc.'s Board of Directors serves as the Local Workforce Investment Board for Region 2 (City of Portland, Multnomah and Washington Counties). WSI's Board sets policy and provides strategic direction for the region's workforce development system, and serves as the conduit for employment and training funds coming from the Department of Labor and other public and private resources. Representatives from Providence Health Systems and Kaiser Permanente serve on the board. top of page Metals Manufacturing Metals and transportation equipment include primary metal, fabricated metal product, machinery, and transportation equipment manufacturers. Current employment in Multnomah County is 20,196, or 5.4% of the total county employment. Washington County employment in this sector is 3,173 (1.7% of the county employment. Job growth over the next ten years is projected at 8.9%. Formed in 2004, the Metals Industry Consortium has been staffed and convened by WSI. It is a collaboration of over 25 local employers, public education (both high school and post-secondary), state and municipal economic development and workforce development professionals. The mission of the Metals Industry Consortium is to strengthen the competitiveness of local metals and transportation equipment manufacturers by increasing the sector's ability to create and sustain solid job opportunities. Building on past WSI efforts to develop trainings in metals manufacturing skills, the consortium currently is working to build a pipeline of workers for the future to replace an aging workforce. It has mounted a campaign with the Portland Public Schools and neighboring school districts to improve the image and understanding of the industry by offering a wide range of teacher, counselor and student learning opportunities. The consortium sponsored a Metals Career Expo in May, 2005, to market its industry to high school students that attracted 2000 students. Metals Industry Consortium Meeting Schedule for 2005 Place: ESCO Corporation Auditorium, 2141 NW 25th Avenue Time: 12pm to 1:30pm Frequency: First Thursday of every other month Dates: February 3rd, April 7th, June 2nd, August 4th, October 6th, and December 1st Minutes (archives)
Retail Downtown Retail Council (DRC) is the voice for downtown Portland's consumer business, open to retailers, restaurateurs and hoteliers. The DRC represents the collective interests of downtown retailers with regard to the public environment and public policy decisions. See http://www.portlandalliance.com/downtown_services/downtown-retail-council.html WSI is an active member of the council as a member of The Portland Business Alliance. top of page Completed Sector Initiatives Drawing on a variety of funding sources, WSI has completed several sector initiatives which helped employers meet their workforce needs and establish productive links between businesses and training providers. To view final project reports, please visit the links below.
Sector websites WSI's Connect2Jobs markets industry sectors and connects prospective employees with up-to-date information on careers, companies, and training opportunities. Follow these links to view in-depth industry information on:
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