The economy is changing—and fast. Technological advancement, artificial intelligence, and shifting industries, alongside a growing momentum to ensure equitable opportunity are reshaping how we think about work. For many Oregonians, the traditional pathway from education to employment—often marked by a four-year degree—is no longer practical, affordable, or effective. In response, the skills first movement [...]

A Workforce in Crisis: The Growing Childcare Shortage Oregon is facing a childcare crisis. Families across the state are struggling to find affordable preschool options, while preschool providers are unable to hire enough qualified teachers to meet the demand. Half of Oregon’s counties are considered childcare deserts, meaning fewer than one-third of local children have [...]

Local workforce boards are actively engaged with their local workforce partners, including Oregon's public and private sector unions, to develop apprenticeships, pre-apprenticeships and effective pathways into the labor market. Many workforce boards across Oregon are at the forefront of creating and expanding apprenticeship opportunities in the trades, clean energy, healthcare, and other high-demand sectors. [...]

Celebrate with us as an Oregon workforce initiative receives well-deserved national recognition. Team Oregon Build has been named the 2025 Workforce Program of the Year by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP)! Team Oregon Build launched last year with the mission of empowering youth with in-demand workforce-ready construction skills, filling a critical [...]

Booming Growth, Lagging Well-Being Source: State of the Nation The United States boasts one of the strongest economies in the world, second only to China, and has experienced faster economic growth than any other high-income country since 1990. Yet, while national prosperity has surged, many other areas of American life have failed to [...]

Building A Path Towards Livable Wage Employment Building a thriving workforce requires more than just training individuals for in-demand jobs—it requires addressing the systemic challenges that prevent workers from achieving economic stability. In Oregon, 12.6% of the population lives at or below the poverty line. Many households face barriers to self-sufficiency as wages fail [...]