The Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC) is a dynamic partnership of the region’s three Workforce Development Boards: Clackamas Workforce Partnership, Workforce SW Washington, and Worksystems. In March 2025, they released their 2025–2027 Construction Workforce Plan, aiming to address the burgeoning demands of the construction industry in the Portland-Vancouver Metropolitan Area. Since 2015, the region’s construction sector has added over 28,000 jobs—a 40% increase—and projections indicate the addition of 11,539 new jobs by 2032. With many current workers nearing retirement, there’s an urgent need to cultivate a skilled and diverse workforce.

The CWWC’s plan focuses on three strategic priorities:

1. Connect youth and career changers to jobs, training, and apprenticeship opportunities in Construction.

2. Advance diversity, equity and inclusion within the Construction industry.

3. Improve retention of existing apprentices and workers.

By aligning public workforce investments with industry needs, the CWWC aims to create a sustainable and equitable construction workforce, ensuring the region’s economic vitality for years to come.