Workforce development

How is King County doing?

Jobs that pay wages sufficient to support families are vital to quality of life. A family wage is a wage that allows a family to meet its basic needs without resorting to public assistance and provides it some ability to deal with emergencies and plan ahead. In King County, the 2006 family wage for a single adult with two children was $54,059 per year. The average King County family wage in 2006 was $53,482, but this average does not consider the size of each household.

In 2004, 23 percent of the county population was living below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. And in 2007, 6.4 percent of King County households received public assistance or foods stamps. These numbers may still underestimate the amount of residents unable to meet basic needs and plan for the future.

Educational opportunities are a major factor in residents' ability to earn a family wage. In 2006, the median earning for males that had not graduated high school was $22,342, while high school graduates earned $33,395. In contrast, men with bachelor's degrees earned almost $65,985 that year. More than 40 percent of the adult population in King County has earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

Earning potential is critical, especially as real wages in the region have fallen more than 2 percent since the year 2000. Declining real wages indicate that workers' wages have not increased at the same pace of inflation; therefore workers' buying power has decreased.

What else influences these indicators?

Several factors contribute to the employment and earning potential of King County residents. Educational opportunities are crucial to developing a highly skilled workforce. Unfortunately, many low-income people have difficulties gaining access to quality education, training, and support services needed to prepare them for the world of work.

The overall business climate is also a critical factor for economic development in King County - the region must be able to attract and retain both skilled employees and employers that seek highly skilled labor.

What role does King County government play?

Entry-level jobs are essential to helping low-income or low-skilled individuals enter the workforce, reduce their dependence on public resources, and move out of poverty. King County offers several programs that focus on specific groups that benefit from additional support to be successful in the marketplace. King County's Workforce Development Program provides job opportunities for residents, with an emphasis on training low-income workers to help them gain skills that are needed by local businesses.

The Department of Community and Human Services provides direct service and also contracts with agencies that provide education and training programs to assist clients, both adults and youth/young adults, to develop essential job skills, including assistance in achieving a high school diploma or GED. The department serves disadvantaged adults and youth with low basic skills; adults and youth with prior criminal justice system involvement; youth and adults with developmental disabilities; and adults with mental illness working towards recovery. In addition, the department contracts for job counseling and placement services, and assists in the coordination of employment supports.