About
Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) is the Local Workforce Development Board designated by federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) legislation as the policy, planning and oversight body for the public workforce system in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.
WSW is a nonprofit organization that gives funds to community-based organizations, nonprofits, education and others to provide employment services and training to youth and adults seeking jobs or skills for career advancement.
Over the years WSW has partnered with and provided funds to Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region, Lower Columbia College, Educational Service District 112, Habitat for Humanity in Clark and Cowlitz counties, Partners in Careers, Next, WorkSource, Cathlamet High School, Lower Columbia Community Action Program, Clark College, and Washington State University Vancouver, to name a few.
Increasing Equity and Access to Workforce Services
We strive to ensure each person in our community has access to critically-needed workforce development programs, services and opportunities.
We are committed to working with our community to invest in transformative change that breaks down systemic racism and provides equitable access and opportunity for Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, Asian and other People of Color, those with disabilities, and LGBTQIA+ members of our community.
We are taking steps to ensure the workforce system is accessible, especially to those communities that have historically been underrepresented and marginalized.
We acknowledge that we are on the ancestral homelands of the Chehalis, Chinook, Taidnapam and Lower Cowlitz peoples, Clatsop, Klikitat and other tribes from time immemorial.
Companies need workers. People need jobs.
Workforce Southwest Washington brings them together.
WSW leads the public workforce system in Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. Since 2002, we’ve invested more than $134 million to support business growth and get people working in Southwest Washington.
Our partners include businesses, economic development, education, labor, government, nonprofit and community organizations.
WSW brings these groups together to identify the regional workforce needs of specific industries and job seekers. This public-private team works together to obtain funding and implement strategies that help companies attract, hire and retain the workers they need and help individuals get jobs or learn new skills to obtain better jobs.
Founded in 2002, Workforce Southwest Washington is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. Our mission is to lead a regional workforce development system where every individual has access to high-quality employment and every business has access to a highly-skilled workforce. We envision a region where economic prosperity and growth exists for every person.
For Business
Attracting qualified candidates and providing training to existing employees so your business can grow and remain competitive can be challenging. Our business services team can help with recruiting, screening and assessing candidates or upgrading the skills of your existing employees.
Businesses have the opportunity to strategically direct workforce investments by taking part in our targeted industry work. This collaboration between companies and the workforce system takes a systemic approach to employee recruitment, retention and training to design long-term solutions to meet various industries’ current and future workforce needs.
For Job Seekers
Whether you’re looking for your first job, have years of experience, have been laid off, want to try something new or advance in your career, the community partners we invest in can provide free help with building your resume, interviewing skills, training and education, connections to open jobs, and referrals to services, like housing and childcare.
Workforce Partners
The workforce system includes partners from various industries.
- Economic development agencies
- Chambers of commerce
- Business and industry associations
- Federal, state, county and city agencies
- Organized labor
- Community colleges, universities and K-12 school districts
- Career and technical education providers
- Nonprofit and community-based organizations
- Other workforce development boards
News & Insights
Get In Touch
Want to build a community of workers who can support the growth of your business? We bring together business, education, government and economic development partners.
