On Friday, April 11, the Worksystems Board convened at WorkSource SE Portland to highlight the power of strategic partnerships in building a stronger regional workforce. A special thank-you to SE Works for hosting!

WorkSource Portland Metro (WSPM) is seeing an unprecedented surge in demand. The SE center alone experienced a dramatic increase in walk-in traffic:

✅ 1,811 visits from October to December 2024
✅ 4,389 visits from January to March 2025 — nearly triple the volume

Last year, the WSPM network of five job centers and three express centers served over 25,000 individuals. If current trends continue, the SE center is on pace to serve more than 17,000 walk-ins this year alone.

WorkSource plays a critical role in helping people navigate job loss, career transitions, and skill development. It remains our region’s frontline resource in times of economic uncertainty. Worksystems provides oversight and quality control while coordinating services, investing funds, designing programs, and aligning partners across the WSPM system to help job seekers build skills and meet the workforce needs of regional employers through a collaborative, systems-based approach.

Now more than ever, continued investment in local workforce infrastructure is essential. By strengthening these resources, we ensure that our communities have the tools they need to overcome employment barriers and contribute to a thriving local economy.

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Portland City Councilor Loretta Smith uplifted the impact of SummerWorks—a program she helped champion in 2009. As Councilor Smith shared, this program “gives young people opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have.”

SummerWorks connects youth ages 16–24 with paid work experiences that build essential skills, boost confidence, and open doors to meaningful careers. It’s a proven model for helping young people—especially those facing systemic barriers—enter the workforce with purpose and support.

📈 Over 11,000 youth have completed a SummerWorks work experience
💵 Youth have earned more than $20 million in wages
🤝 SummerWorks builds a diverse, skilled talent pipeline that fuels regional business success

We’re proud to partner with public agencies and community organizations to continue investing in the future of our youth.
Funding & Planning Partners: City of Portland, Multnomah County, City of Gresham, TriMet
Career Coach Community Partners: POIC, Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, New Avenues for Youth

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Kristle Delihanty, Executive Director, and the team at PDX Saints Love shared the importance of the Shelter Workers program—an initiative creating meaningful employment pathways for individuals with lived experience of homelessness or substance use.

Launched through the City of Portland’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Workforce program and sustained through City funding, the Shelter Worker program provides individuals experiencing homelessness with a pathway to employment. Participants who are utilizing shelter services are placed in paid internships supporting critical shelter services, gaining income while helping strengthen shelter operations.

These roles provide not only valuable work experience and income, but also a bridge to long-term employment and stability. By investing in people with lived experience and equipping them with tools for success, the Shelter Worker program strengthens both individual lives and the shelter system as a whole.

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Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Leslee Barnes, Director of Preschool & Early Learning, shared inspiring remarks and demonstrated continued leadership in advancing Preschool for All. Their commitment is driving meaningful progress toward a bold vision: ensuring every 3- and 4-year-old in Multnomah County has access to high-quality, inclusive preschool by 2030.

Worksystems partners with Preschool for All through the Early Learning Works initiative, which helps build career pathways for early educators through:

• Career coaching and job search assistance
• Paid work experience and on-the-job training
• Scholarships for continuing education
• A focus on equity and access for historically underserved communities

“With Preschool for All, we’re not only growing jobs, we’re improving them. Our program sets standards for wages, benefits, and ongoing professional development that make early childhood education a career worth investing in. And as the program grows, so does the need for a talented, passionate workforce.” — Leslee Barnes

Educators at Preschool for All sites benefit from improved wages and working conditions—teacher’s aides and assistants earn a minimum of $21.68 per hour, with opportunities for advancement and continued training.

Worksystems is honored to support the development of a diverse, skilled early learning workforce—one that reflects the strength and vibrancy of our region’s communities.

Early Learning Works is made possible through partnerships with Multnomah County, Preschool for All, SE Works, WorkSource Portland Metro, and Portland Community College.