Strengthening Regional Industry

Worksystems’ goal is to ensure employers can recruit and retain the talent they need to fill quality jobs through the public workforce system.

Supporting Businesses to Boost the Economy

Worksystems delivers customizedinnovativeoptimal solutions to complex workforce challenges.

To address employers’ hiring, training, and retention needs, we deploy various strategies, including outreach and skill development through regional WorkSource centers, community-based career coaching, custom training cohorts, and on-the-job training programs.

We recognize that, just like capital and resources, businesses and individuals cross jurisdictional boundaries in search of talent and opportunity. Through the nationally celebrated Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC), Worksystems, Clackamas Workforce Partnership and Workforce Southwest Washington deliver a coordinated regional approach to workforce development. By working together, we achieve prosperity across the Portland Metro region and ensure businesses find the talent they need to grow and thrive.

QUALITY JOBS IN TARGET SECTORS

Worksystems partners with employers to connect workers with quality jobs in high-growth sectors vital to strengthening our regional economy. Target sectors were identified through a rigorous analysis of the regional labor market, considering growth potential, private- and public-sector investment, and national and global trends.

In 2023, businesses in our target sectors accounted for:

47%

of privately owned businesses*

55%

of private employment*

49%

of wages paid by privately owned businesses in Portland Metro* 

*Source: Oregon Covered Employment and Wages (QCEW)

Equally important is each sector’s ability to provide Quality Jobs with self-sufficiency wages, accessible hiring practices, and comprehensive benefits

Advanced Manufacturing

The region is a national leader in semiconductor fabrication and other advanced manufacturing techniques.

Clean Energy

Substantial public investment and a strong environmental ethos are driving the region’s transition to a post-fossil fuel economy.

construction

A Regional Funders Collaborative is setting a national precedent by coordinating investments to prepare workers for the region’s growing construction industry and infrastructure needs.

Healthcare & Social Assistance

Caring for one another is not just a moral and social imperative, it’s a high-growth industry. In addition to traditional healthcare jobs, Behavioral Health is a current area of focus.

Child care & Early Education

Through Multnomah County’s innovative Preschool for All program, the region has become a national leader in increasing quality jobs in the early learning sector.

How WorkSystems strengthens regional industry

Worksystems utilizes its target sector approach to address industry needs, guide workforce investments, and strengthen the regional economy.

Workforce Supply and Demand info graphic - Uniting key partners - circle going clockwise Worker voices & career coaches to workforce development & training partners to industry partners

Key Strategies Include:

Key Strategies Include:

Engage and mobilize employers to increase access to Quality Job pathways in target sectors by expanding talent pipelines and providing applicable training.

Expand and align business services and workforce investments to meet industry needs.

Provide clear pathways for job seekers to opportunities in target sectors through the Aligned Partner Network.

Help businesses to thrive by promoting the business case for the Quality Jobs Framework and leveraging experts to help partners develop an implementation roadmap to address their unique workplace needs.

By the Numbers

Worksystems has a proven track record of working closely with businesses in target sectors to address skill gaps and worker shortages in critical occupations. We invest these resources in career coaching and training, preparing individuals for in-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, clean energy, construction, early learning, and healthcare.

From 2014 to 2024, Worksystems has:

secured over

$28 mil

in competitive grants, while also leveraging significant additional resources through the workforce system

formed

10

active industry panels and workforce committees

established

5

innovative communities of practice with local and national experts

completed

6

direct hire customized training programs, and provided countless scholarships for trainings that lead to industry-recognized credentials 

Real-life Impact

Stories From Our Community

“OP” faced significant challenges, including a justice-involved background and a lack of a driver’s license, both of which hindered his ability to secure stable employment. Motivated by the need to provide financial stability for his family, “OP” sought support to complete his carpentry apprenticeship and secure a steady job.

Through the Clean Energy Career Coaching Program—funded by the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF)—”OP” received tailored support services, including rental assistance for September and October 2024. He also benefited from career coaching from the Department of Community Justice and PCEF who provided job search guidance and support. These resources helped “OP” maintain housing stability and navigate unique employment challenges in the construction industry.

With help from the Clean Energy Career Coaching Program, “OP” secured full-time employment with a local construction company, earning $48 per hour. He is now just 400 hours away from completing his apprenticeship with Local Union 503 and is expected to earn his Journeyman Carpenter’s License within the next three months. This achievement marks a major milestone in his career and personal life, positioning him for continued financial stability and success in the expanding clean energy job market within the construction industry.

Matilde’s path into the construction trades is marked by determination and resilience. Without a car, she commuted to Portland YouthBuilders’ pre-apprenticeship program using public transit and a scooter. On her first day she thought, “Even if the other girls don’t show up today, I’m going to stick it out because we need more women in construction.”

Matilde remained committed to breaking barriers. With support from PYB—hands-on training, financial assistance, mentorship, and a strong community—she earned her pre-apprenticeship credential and was accepted into the Northwest College of Construction. Now a full-time carpenter’s apprentice earning $53/hour, Matilde is building a stable, independent future and paving the way for more women in construction.

Uver was interested in becoming an electrician, but struggled with his initial IBEW Local 48 interview. They suggested he sign up for Portland Youth Builder’s pre-apprenticeship program. The program provided hands-on training, career coaching, and leadership opportunities that helped him grow personally and professionally. “PYB helped me come out of my shell,” he said.

Uver completed over 220 hours of hands-on training at PYB, earning certifications in First Aid/CPR, OSHA 10, Green Building (Earth Advantage), and the highest-level BOLI Tier 1 pre-apprenticeship certificate. To strengthen his IBEW application, he gained experience as a material handler with Dynalectric. Now a first-term IBEW apprentice, Uver is attending Boot Camp and will soon be dispatched to a signatory contractor.

Before joining the program, this participant struggled to find stable work. He knew he wanted a career—not just a job—but didn’t know where to start. With a strong interest in working with his hands and a growing desire to join the construction trades and eventually the union, he was looking for a real opportunity. A friend recommended the program over the summer, and after connecting with Constructing Hope’s Outreach and Recruitment Specialist, he was sold.

Once enrolled, he engaged deeply in the program’s services. With support from Job Developers, he refined his resume and practiced mock interviews, gaining the confidence and preparation needed to approach union applications. Constructing Hope guided him through the process of understanding different trade unions and helped him become job-ready. He now plans to apply to Local 503 – Carpenters and has already positioned himself for broader access to opportunities within IBEW and Laborers.

His journey wasn’t without obstacles. Persistent car troubles and a suspended license due to old tickets made getting to class a challenge. But he didn’t let that stop him. With the help of gas cards, a HOP pass, and support from the Project Reset program to clear past tickets and reinstate his license, he stayed on track. His commitment, along with support from his partner, ensured he didn’t miss a step.

Thanks to Constructing Hope, he earned multiple certificates, free of cost, that opened doors to employment and placed him at a higher skill level than many entering the trades. These credentials, combined with his grit and persistence, have laid a strong foundation for a career in the union trades.

As he puts it: “If you feel like you have no opportunities or work experience, this is a great way to start—a chance to succeed, especially if you feel stuck in a life without better opportunities for your family and yourself.”

Additional Resources

Careers NW 
CWWC
QualityInfo 
Aspen Institute’s Job Quality Tools Library
The Good Jobs Institute 
Department of Labor Job Quality Toolkit for Employers