Our global economy continues to rapidly change and evolve. As our region grows and adapts to this changing economy, local employers increasingly demand a higher level of skill and knowledge from workers, yet thousands in our region lack the necessary tools and training. The impact on our workforce is clear—today average firms employ fewer workers with less opportunities for workers with no postsecondary education or training. Especially for black and brown workers in our region impacted by systemic racism, the result is a widening gap between rich and poor that is keeping many of our neighbors under-employed, stagnating in low-wage work, or struggling to meet the demands of multiple part-time positions.

Established in 2007, the Greater Washington Workforce Development Collaborative brings together local foundations, individual philanthropists, and businesses around a shared vision for our region where every individual has an opportunity to realize their full potential, secure a family-sustaining job, and both benefit from and contribute to our regional economic prosperity.