Washington’s Job Skills Program celebrates 40 years
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington’s state Job Skills Program — the state’s dollar-for-dollar matching grant program helping train employees — celebrates 40 years this week. Since 1983, more than 75,000 employees and 1,000 employers have taken advantage of the program to stay up-to-speed in a competitive market, boosting employability and profitability.
“The Job Skills Program has been Washington’s most consistent state investment strategy in direct training for businesses,” said Paul Francis, executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, which oversees the program. “The program is an invaluable tool for employees, employers and Washington state, supporting people and businesses in new and emerging industries, upgrading employee skills and in communities struggling with high unemployment,”
Employers work with local community or technical colleges, public and nonprofit universities, and license private career schools in Washington to train new employees and retrain or upgrade current employees. Employers pay for 50% of the training through cash, in-kind payments — like providing materials, supplies and equipment, and by paying wages and benefits — or a combination.
“Employers get exactly the training they need on their schedule and their location, and employees learn valuable skills that will help them in their careers for years to come,” Carolyn McKinnon, who oversees the program for the State Board, said.
From July 1, 2021 to Sept. 1, 2022, the most recent data available, the Job Skills Program supported 109 projects and 6,782 trainees. Most of the grants — 64% — went to the manufacturing industry, including companies in aerospace, wood and paper products, electronics and high-tech, composites and marine. Remaining grants were awarded to companies in food production, agriculture, construction, environmental services, health, retail and hospitality. Small businesses also saw the most benefit, with 60% of grants going to companies with 100 or fewer employees.
