The Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board recently released a report regarding the state’s workforce development services, which show mostly good news for employers seeking highly skilled employees. The majority of these programs show high employer and participant satisfaction, a high rate of credential attainment and employment after program completion, and a significant return on taxpayer dollars.
The Workforce Board publishes the Workforce Training Results report annually, measuring the performance of 12 of the state’s largest workforce programs. These programs account for about 98 percent of the federal and state dollars spent on our state’s workforce training system, and involve participants ranging from high school career and technical education students, to workers with disabilities, to workers who have recently lost their jobs or are struggling to find their first one.
A highlight of the study was the performance of state apprenticeship programs, which had an 84 percent employment rate and average annual earnings of $63,869 for those who completed the program. These programs also come at a low cost to the public because the bulk of costs are covered by trust funds established by employers and workers.
State community and technical college Professional-Technical Education programs are also thriving. After completing the program, 70 percent of students were employed during the third quarter after exit. Students reported a 91 percent satisfaction rate after leaving the program, and employers reported a 96 percent satisfaction rate with new employees who were program completers.
These 12 workforce development programs have a proven track record of providing the skilled workforce Washington employers are searching for.
Get the executive summary and detailed reports on each of these programs at wtb.wa.gov/WorkforceTrainingResults.asp.
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