Washington-area businesses need ready access to a skilled workforce to stay economically competitive.  Both the Greater Washington Board of Trade and DC Chamber of Commerce identify workforce development as a top policy priority.  By focusing on key regional industries - currently healthcare and construction - GWWDC is helping to address employers' needs and bolster our local economy.

Thousands of local workers are still struggling to find work.  While parts of our region have weathered the recent recession well, many communities have been hit hard by unemployment and many workers continue to struggle to find full-time employment.  Research consistently finds that the least-skiled workers are most likely to be unemployed.  Increasing or updating the skills of local workers may help to reduce their chances of becoming unemployed and, if they are laid off, allow them to get back to work more quickly.

Many working adults are employed full time but still struggle to make ends meet.  GWWDC helps to make hard work pay off for low-income families by expanding access to career pathways.  Career pathways help to ensure that workers have an opportunity to advance their careers and wages over time.  With work experience, skills training, further education, literacy services, and/or supports, many workers successfully advance from low-paying entry-level positions into "middle skill," family sustaining careers.

A skilled workforce provides a higher quality of life for us all.  Investments in the human capital of our workforce improve the quality of life for all residents of Greater Washington.  For example, GWWDC's current investments in healthcare workforce development are helping to ensure that our region doesn't experienceshortages in  critical healthcare occupations and, at the same time, providing workers with updated skills that improve their ability to provide high-quality care.

Further Reading
Closing the Gaps to Build the Future: Improving Workforce Development Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (2010)
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments

 Hometown Prosperity: Increasing Opportunity for DC's Low-Income Working Families (2008)
DC Appleseed/DC Fiscal Policy Institute

 Bridging the Gaps in DC: Strategies to Support Low-Income Working Families (2008)
DC Fiscal Policy Institute

 Reducing Poverty in Washington, DC and Rebuilding the Middle Class from Within (2007)
Greater Washington Research at Brookings