Willamette View’s experience with Clackamas Workforce Partnership shows the value of building relationships and giving employers a voice in workforce development.

At Willamette View, a retirement community serving adults ages 55 and older, workforce needs are as diverse as the services the organization provides.

Human Resources Manager Selene Andreasen describes the community as a small city, with a wide variety of positions and opportunities for workers of different ages and experience levels.

But finding the right people takes more than posting job openings.

When Andreasen first joined Willamette View, the organization had few connections to the broader workforce development community. It wasn’t participating in job fairs or actively building a recruitment network.

That began to change when a colleague encouraged her to get involved with Clackamas Workforce Partnership (CWP).

Through meetings and ongoing participation, Andreasen began building relationships with organizations and individuals throughout the Clackamas County community, discovering opportunities to connect with potential workers and contribute to broader workforce conversations.

Giving Employers a Voice

For Andreasen, the value of workforce partnerships goes beyond recruitment.

Regional workforce boards bring employers together with education, training, and community partners to address the needs of local industries. By participating, businesses can help ensure workforce development efforts reflect the skills and talent they, as employers, actually need.

That involvement also helps employers stay connected to changes and opportunities in their industries.

As Andreasen explains, businesses cannot rely solely on traditional job advertisements to reach today’s workforce. They need to build relationships, engage with their communities, and participate in the conversations shaping workforce development.

“I think the workforce partnerships are vital to employers,” she says.

Willamette View’s experience illustrates how meaningful employer engagement can strengthen the connection between businesses and their regional workforce systems.

For employers of all sizes and industries, the message is simple: workforce partnerships offer more than hiring assistance. They offer a chance to help shape the workforce of the future.

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