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Our role in the Washington Jobs Initiative
The Washington Jobs Initiative has invested nearly $17 million in 8 job-training partnerships across the state. The goal is to train or upskill 5,000 students—placing at least 3,150 into "good jobs.” These programs are opening doors to five growing industries: construction, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and aerospace, clean technology and energy, and information technology and cybersecurity. Led by the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), the Washington Jobs Initiative focuses on building training programs within locally led workforce systems by engaging historically marginalized communities and those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Initiative focuses on building training programs within locally led workforce systems by engaging historically marginalized communities and those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a sub-awardee, Washington STEM was designated to provide technical assistance to each backbone organization, co-creating a technical assistance framework and toolkits. Through community of practice convenings, we also established a format to share what's working and exchange ideas.
Improving career pathways by bridging oversight and implementation.
In partnership with the Washington Employment Security Department (ESD), the contract grant manager for our backbone organizations, we identified an opportunity to incorporate program site visits into the equity audit process. These visits create a direct line of visibility and coordination between ESD and the healthcare sector backbone, SEIU Healthcare. For statewide initiatives such as this, programming experts and decision-makers must work together to fulfill contract requirements and deliver the best possible experiences for students and instructors.
Each partner plays an essential role in supporting student persistence through this initiative. Washington STEM’s role is cross-system—we assess the whole landscape, ensuring adult mindsets and power structures evolve in ways that advance equity and opportunity for all participants.
Systems-level approach, site-specific perspective
Washington STEM and consulting partner, Eight Twenty-Eight, visited SEIU's Nursing Assistant Training program at Clover Park Technical College in Tacoma. We heard directly from students about their decision to pursue careers in healthcare.
Students discussed their backgrounds, aspirations, and the barriers they’ve faced along the way. Some described how neurodiversity and learning differences have shaped their journeys—and how they hope to bring their whole selves into the healthcare field. They also expressed a desire to connect with professional mentors for guidance and industry-specific insights.
Takeaways
This nearly all-woman-presenting cohort underscored the importance of gender-affirming and inclusive learning environments. The group dynamic reflected strong representation of women and queer-identifying learners, highlighting how identity-aware spaces enhance engagement and belonging.
One notable practice to emerge was around instructor reflection and vulnerability. When instructors took time to share openly about their own learning and challenges, it deepened the sense of authenticity and mutual respect in the room. Similarly, a student-initiated group text chat became an unexpected success story. Even though it wasn’t part of the formal structure, it helped students support each other, share tips, and build community outside of class time.
Concerns shared by participants
- “Will I be able to be Me…? I like to change my hair color and hope that’s acceptable.”
- “I have ADHD…? Will people understand my needs?”
- “How do I work with people from other cultures that are very different from mine?” Is there support for this?
Students also spoke candidly about the realities of navigating workplace bias. They want to be ready not only in terms of skills and credentials, but also emotionally prepared to recognize and respond to environments where bias and marginalization persist.
Together, Washington STEM and the ESD conducted eight site visits where we saw common themes emerge. As the technical assistance lead, Washington STEM will share these takeaways at our January Community of Practice for backbone organizations to consider implementing with their training programs.
A “good job” as defined by the Economic Development Administration (EDA)’s Good Jobs Challenge program is a quality job with stable, predictable living wage, benefits and, future job opportunities.
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