Did You Know...

21%
of our workforce are considered "Working Poor"

1 out of 5
full-time workers in the Portland Metro region lives in a low-income household -- one in ten lives in poverty

30%
of the region's working-age adults are low-income

30 - 39%
of parents in Oregon's low-income working families have no post-secondary education and

28%
do not have a high school diploma or GED
Career Seekers > Prosperity Planner

Independence:
How Much Money Does it Take?

Prosperity Planner

The PROSPERITY PLANNER is a  tool that helps you understand what it takes to meet your basic needs and develop strategies to achieve your career and earning goals.

Recent reports on the rise of poverty, the growing disparity between rich and poor, and the changing nature of the job market points to the need for fundamental shifts in public policy.

Access to training, education, and jobs with career potential are central to attaining self-sufficiency, and skill development is critical for long-term benefit. Many workforce programs favor placement over skill development, so low-income/low-skill workers move from one low-wage job to another never breaking out of the cycle. Public policies that promote education and skills development along with quality jobs are effective ways to foster family economic mobility and security.

We have a commitment to make a difference. The Prospertiy Planner provides a mechanism to:

  • Move people into "living-wage" jobs through skill development
  • Coordinate support services and training at all levels in order to increase capacity and results
  • Concentrate resources on programs that offer measurable results

Regional coordination of asset development, workforce support, and outcome measurement is paramount to our efforts to stop cycles of poverty and ensure that we are truly making a difference.

For further information contact Pam Hester at phester@worksystems.org or 503-478-7322.