The Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC) is a partnership between the Southwest Washington-Portland Metropolitan Area’s three Workforce Development Boards – Workforce Southwest Washington, Clackamas Workforce Partnership and Worksystems.

Authorized by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Local Workforce Boards are designated by the Governor and local elected officials to receive, invest and manage federal and state resources dedicated to improving the quality of the local workforce. Local Boards serve as strategic conveners, investors, coordinators, researchers and brokers to align resources, streamline services and improve results. The Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative was formed in 2010 to deliver a unified approach to serve industry, support economic development, and guide public workforce investments across the region.

The Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative aligns the capabilities and resources of the three Boards to improve the region’s ability to respond to regional labor market shifts, to leverage and layer funding streams, to coordinate ideas and strategies, to pursue resources and fill gaps, to link workforce supply and industry demand, and to promote shared policies and collective impact.

Our level of regional workforce collaboration is unique and brings all of the region’s public workforce resources and efforts together to effectively meet current and emerging workforce needs. The Collaborative has enabled meaningful business engagement, refocused and aligned the regional public workforce development infrastructure, and emerged as an integral partner in regional economic development.

Over the years, the Collaborative has enjoyed significant success and developed a nationally-recognized model to engage industry, identify regional workforce issues and implement shared solutions. The Collaborative has been awarded nearly $60 million in competitive workforce funding to address workforce challenges in the healthcare, technology, manufacturing and construction sectors.

Sectors are chosen based on factors such as their economic significance to the region, current number of openings and job growth projections, average wages that support self-sufficiency, and career ladder opportunities across the skill continuum. By examining labor market intelligence and vetting the information with businesses, we are able to better understand industry trends, identify current and emergent workforce needs, and develop customized solutions for each sector.

With an area more than 6,600 square miles, a population over 2.2 million, a workforce of nearly 1.7 million, more than 70,000 businesses, 2 states, 7 counties, 24 cities, 27 colleges and universities, 28 business chambers, 41 school districts, and 61 economic development organizations the Portland-Vancouver Metropolitan Area is a vibrant, diverse and complex region.

The quality of the region’s workforce is a primary driver of economic development and the region’s overall economic health. Regions that most effectively manage their workforce talent are likely to be more competitive and attract the quality of jobs people need to support themselves and their families.

The Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative guides the public workforce training investments to better address the needs of our combined labor shed. We know that people are willing to travel throughout the region for the best opportunities and that businesses need the most qualified workers regardless of where they live. By working together, we can cultivate our regional talent pool and build the foundation for a strong economy.

Who We Are

Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative Assets

Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative Activities