An estimated 27,200 16-to-24-year-olds in the Portland SW WA Metro Area are neither in school nor working. Read the report created with our Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative partners, Clackamas Workforce Partnership and Worksystems, to learn more buff.ly/3BjfLxJ

Happy Holidays from our team here at WSW! We had a wonderful time at our annual holiday teambuilding while enjoying festivities, food, games, music and a white elephant gift exchange!

Help Shape the Future of Job Quality in Washington State! Take the Job Quality survey to show what matters most to Washington’s working families. buff.ly/3Valw7v #WAJobQuality

Emergency housing resources are available. Call the Council for the Homeless Housing Hotline in Clark County at (360) 695-9677, Cowlitz Family Health Center at (360)-703-1103 or Wahkiakum Health & Human Services at (360)-795-8630 to learn about resources. buff.ly/3D002E9

December is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Awareness Month. It is normal for many people to feel "down" when the days get shorter. Sitting near a bright light and eating foods or supplements rich in vitamin D can help diminish the effects of SAD. buff.ly/30XV47P

Have you read our latest newsletter? In it we celebrate the success of Economic Security for All, congratulate SW WA WWA award winners and much more! Catch up on the latest in Southwest Washington Workforce news at: buff.ly/402YemY

Have you read our last newsletter of 2024? In it we celebrate the success of Economic Security for All, congratulate SW WA WWA award winners and much more! Catch up on the latest in Southwest Washington Workforce news at: buff.ly/402YemY

Our team here at WSW wishes you a happy holiday season full of joy! ❄️ In case you missed it, here are a couple more photos from our staff holiday teambuilding!

Host a Future Leaders Project (FLP) intern in Summer 2025! FLP Interns bring new ideas and perspectives and are a proven, cost-effective way to recruit potential employees. Businesses interested in learning more about FLP, please visit buff.ly/3Db8hNH

Happy New Year! We are excited for the new opportunities 2025 will bring. Here's to another year of serving Southwest Washington!

Help Shape the Future of Job Quality in Washington State! Take the Job Quality survey to show what matters most to Washington’s working families. buff.ly/3Valw7v #WAJobQuality

We're excited to launch our new 2025-2029 Strategic Plan which will guide our efforts as we create a region where everyone has access to high-quality employment and every business has access to a highly-skilled workforce. See our plan at buff.ly/3PkYXtx

WorkSource in Vancouver will be hosting a hiring event on Wednesday, January 15 at 10 a.m. Jobseekers can meet multiple employers in one location including our partners from the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program!

As we start a new year of serving Southwest Washington, we reflect on all the great things we had the pleasure to participate in and achieve in 2024. Watch our newest video to look back on that amazing year in Southwest Washington Workforce Development. buff.ly/4h7GpsS

The Strategies for Success workshop series from our partners at WorkSource can change your life! Jobseekers interested in learning skills needed to get and keep a job can take these classes throughout the rest of January. Next week's lesson is on community engagement!

New year, new minimum wage. As of January 1, 2025, the Washington State minimum wage has risen to $16.66 per hour. Companies wanting to improve their employee recruitment and retention can refer to our Quality Jobs Self-Sufficiency Wages guide: buff.ly/4fI2Qnc

Elizabeth Gubrud is the President of Pacific Die Casting and is one of the newest members on our board. Her first job was as a barista at the airport. This job taught her how to be punctual and how to be a good team member. We are excited to have you on our board, Elizabeth!

Host a Future Leaders Project (FLP) intern this Summer! FLP Interns bring new ideas and perspectives and are a proven, cost-effective way to recruit potential employees. Businesses interested in learning more about FLP, please visit buff.ly/3Db8hNH

Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by volunteering at a day of service event and planting trees with the Watershed Alliance of Southwest Washington on January 20 in Ridgefield. For more information, visit: buff.ly/4j3IUy8

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Today we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and uphold his words as we strive for a world where equity and justice prevail. Learn more at: buff.ly/3A7qzde