Worksystems

🎉 September is Workforce Development Month, a time to recognize the partnerships, programs, and investments that help people build careers and businesses find the talent they need.

Prosperity 10,000 (P10K) proves what's possible with intentional, flexible workforce investments. Through P10K, workforce boards and community partners connected thousands of Oregonians to training, career coaching, paid work experiences, and the support services needed to succeed.

Learn more about the impact of P10K here: https://worksystems.org/impact-future-ready-oregon-p10k/

While P10K funding concluded this year, the need has not.

A recent analysis from Oregon Workforce Partnership estimates that every dollar invested returns approximately $5.30 to the state's economy through increased earnings and tax revenue alone.

Those results reinforce that workforce development is an investment in the State of Oregon's economic future. Strong workforce participation helps businesses grow, strengthens communities, and contributes to the tax base that funds public services. As workforce challenges continue to evolve, the lessons of P10K demonstrate the value of sustained investment in the people and systems that help Oregonians succeed.

The Impact of Future Ready Oregon and Prosperity 10,000 - Worksystems Passed by the legislature in 2022, Future Ready Oregon was designed to address the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic, with a focus on supporting populations facing employment barriers. In the Portland metro region, those investments allowed Worksystems and our partners to support thousa...

Oregon's workforce leaders are heading to Salem this October — will you be in the room?

Join 500+ business leaders, educators, and workforce professionals for a full day of ideas, connections, and solutions at the WORKing Together Conference 2026.

📅 October 20, 2026
📍 Salem Convention Center
🎉 FREE pre-conference reception, October 19, 2026, 4–7pm (location sent to registrants closer to the reception)

Tickets: https://oregonworkforcepartnership.org/working-together-conference-2026/

Save $50 on registration now through Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

September is Workforce Development Month! 🎉

Created by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), Workforce Development Month is an opportunity to recognize the people, partnerships, and programs that connect individuals to opportunity and help businesses meet talent needs.

Throughout the month, we'll celebrate the impact of workforce development and the important role it plays in growing a strong economy.

To kick off the celebration, check out NAWDP's "Workforce Development Is..." video: https://youtu.be/K3m8_CPNXhs?si=fpbdzpG8QEY6EA10

What is workforce development to YOU? Share in the comments!

Workforce Development Is . . . What does workforce development mean to you? There are many perspe...

Who's speaking at our upcoming Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative event on Wednesday, October 7?

Meet the panelists who will be addressing talent gaps, innovative ways to address them, and barriers that remain in our region:

Rachel Russo, APTD, is the Organizational Development Manager at Benchmade Knife Company, where she leads talent development, leadership programs, organizational effectiveness, and workforce initiatives. Passionate about building strong workplace cultures and developing people, Rachel partners with leaders across manufacturing to create innovative solutions that strengthen the workforce of today while preparing for the workforce of tomorrow.

Ms. Riikka Salonen, MA, is a healthcare workforce development leader with nearly three decades of experience advancing talent acquisition, career development, and organizational transformation. As a managing director of Health and Culture Solutions at BCT Partners, Ms. Salonen leads national healthcare workforce and learning initiatives, including HHS Office of Minority Health’s accredited Think Cultural Health Program, which has enrolled more than 1.3 million learners of culturally responsive care.

Tina Pham of Pham Construction Group (PCG) has over a decade of dedicated experience in the construction industry. She has built a career centered on equity, sustainability, and community empowerment. Beyond physical structures, Tina is passionate about building professional pathways. PCG has successfully implemented workforce and contractor development programs throughout Portland.

Get your tickets to Meeting Workforce Needs before September 11 and get $10 off using the code EarlyBird. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meeting-workforce-needs-tickets-1997060467618?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Clackamas Workforce Partnership Workforce Southwest Washington

Yesterday, we joined community, industry, and elected leaders as Lam Research broke ground on its new lab in Tualatin.

This investment is significant not only for the semiconductor industry, but for the region's economy and workforce.

According to Lam, the expansion is expected to create approximately 900 construction jobs over three years and generate $500 million in economic output. Once complete, it is projected to create more than 400 new Lam jobs and increase the company's annual economic contribution in Oregon to more than $1.8 billion. https://newsroom.lamresearch.com/2026-08-26-Lam-Research-Breaks-Ground-on-New-Oregon-Lab-to-Accelerate-AI-Era-Semiconductor-Research-Development-Locally,-Globally

Career Boost helps SNAP recipients access the coaching, training, and support they need to move toward greater stability through living-wage careers. The program leverages local investments through the federal SNAP Training and Employment Program, also known as STEP, which generates a 50% federal match for eligible non-federal dollars invested in employment and training services for SNAP recipients.

That means state and local investments stretch further. Since 2016, Career Boost has brought more than $12 million in SNAP reinvestment funds to our local workforce system.

In Program Year 25 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026), Career Boost generated more than $1.6 million. That money will be reinvested in the WorkSource Portland Metro system, Economic Opportunity Programs, youth services, pre-apprenticeship, clean energy, and early learning career coaching.

During that same time period, we served 1,175 SNAP recipients:
🤝1,080 received career coaching
📚167 received training scholarships
🔨94 participated in pre-apprenticeships

Thank you to the community partners who help make Career Boost possible! Central City Concern, Community Action Hillsboro, Oregon, Constructing Hope, IRCO Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization, Mt. Hood Community College, Oregon Tradeswomen, Our Just Future, Portland Community College, POIC, Portland YouthBuilders, SE Works, Inc., Trash for Peace, and Urban League of Portland.

One week from tomorrow: Get the layoff transition support you need!

This free, virtual session will cover:
1. How to apply for Unemployment Insurance
2. Job search and training opportunities
3. Options for healthcare coverage through the Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace
4. Community resources and free services at WorkSource Portland Metro (WSPM)

Hosted by the WSPM Layoff Transition Assistance Team:
📅 Friday, August 28
⌚ 10am - 12pm
📍 Zoom
✅ Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPqU4Ekf92qT6XoNOM2xXhCvFVMMbXtgsLfr4H-m7NNTkuOA/viewform

Layoff Transition Assistance Information Session The WorkSource Portland Metro (WSPM) Layoff Transition Assistance team is offering a FREE information session for workers affected by recent layoffs in the Portland Metro area. You will learn about: 🔹 Unemployment Insurance enrollment 🔹 Job search and training opportunities 🔹 Health coverag...

Join the Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (Clackamas Workforce Partnership. Workforce Southwest Washington, and Worksystems) for Meeting Workforce Needs, a regional lunch bringing together employers, policymakers, and workforce leaders to discuss practical solutions to today's talent challenges.

Hear directly from employers in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare as they share what's working, where gaps remain, and what it will take to build a stronger workforce. The discussion will also feature regional labor market insights and a response from policy and workforce leaders focused on turning ideas into action.

📅 Wednesday, October 7
🕦 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
📍 University Club of Portland
🎟️ $30 early discount, use code EarlyBird, $40 regular tickets

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meeting-workforce-needs-tickets-1997060467618?aff=oddtdtcreator

Whether you're an employer, policymaker, or community leader, this conversation will provide valuable insights into the future of our regional workforce.

What's happening at WorkSource Portland Metro this month?

✅ Free workshops covering computer basics, resume writing, interview tips and more.

Check out the full list of August events at https://worksourceportlandmetro.org/events/ and find support designed to help you navigate the next steps in your career transition.

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Workforce partnerships help meet growing demand in clean energy careers.

As the Portland region invests in energy-efficient upgrades and home retrofits, employers need more workers with specialized skills.

Meeting that demand takes more than training alone. It requires collaboration between employers, training providers, and workforce partners.

A new How Oregon Works interview in the Portland Business Journal explores how the HERO Academy is helping meet that need through a paid, 15-week training program that prepares pre-apprenticeship graduates for careers installing residential heat pump and water heating systems.

The conversation brings together Worksystems, Earth Advantage, Constructing Hope, and The Heat Pump Store to discuss how collaboration leads to stronger talent pipelines and expanded access to quality jobs.

Watch the full interview here:

Heat pump training program launches to meet Portland employer demand - Portland Business Journal Earth Advantage developed the HERO Academy, a paid, 15-week training program that prepares pre-apprenticeship graduates for high-demand jobs installing residential energy-efficient heat pump and water heating systems.