Quality Jobs Initiative

Firefighting

Creating an Equitable Economic Recovery

Purpose: The purpose of the Columbia Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC) Quality Jobs Initiative is a commitment to designing and developing a regional approach with: 

  • Workers
  • Employers
  • Job Seekers
  • Community-Based Organizations
  • Economic Developers, and
  • Local Municipalities to define, support, and promote quality jobs.

Quality Jobs Council

In mid-2021, CWP and its Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC) partners, Workforce Southwest Washington and Worksystems convened 19 cross-sectoral participants representing businesses, workers, labor, service providers, and government agencies located in the Portland-Southwest Washington Metropolitan area to develop and adopt a regional approach to creating quality jobs. The purpose of the Council was to (1) define a quality job for the region, (2) provide guidance on standards employers can adopt, (3) identify resources to help employers implement the framework in accordance with their workplace needs, and (4) develop a roadmap/framework of actions and implementation steps.

The Quality Jobs Framework was developed in close collaboration with the Council and informed by: (1) a multipronged research approach which included a review of existing regional case studies; (2) a nationwide scan of best practices; and (3) a series of interviews with relevant organizations and leaders throughout the region to identify core components of a quality job.

What is a Quality Job?

In July 2022, the Quality Jobs Framework was released. It is a blueprint for actionable, detailed strategies for companies to improve their jobs and work conditions. 

 
Under the framework, a quality job includes self-sufficiency wages, safe working condition / worker engagement, predictable hours, comprehensive benefits, accessible hiring and on board practices and training and advancement opportunities. 

Recommendations for Next Steps

The Framework offers strategies for organizations seeking practical guidance on how to create quality jobs in the region. As next steps, organizations can do the following:

  • Share the Quality Jobs Framework with organizational leadership.
  • Review the recommendations and develop a plan for incorporating the relevant recommendations of the Framework within their organizations.
  • Keep the Workforce Development Boards and Quality Jobs Council apprised of progress.
 
For assistance implementing your quality jobs strategy, reach out to the workforce boards at:

Quality Job Council Participants

Quality Job Council participants included individuals representing workers and people with disabilities, labor, government and private industry:

Accel Plastics | Clackamas County | Ebon Oluchi, Worker Representative | Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) | Isis Harris, Worker Representative | Legacy Health | NAACP, Vancouver Branch | O’Neill Construction Group | Oregon AFL-CIO | Oregon City Chamber of Commerce | Oregon Metro | Partners in Diversity | Port of Portland | Prosper Portland | SEIU UHW-West & Education Fund | Saara Hirsi, Worker Representative | Urban League of Portland | Walgreens | Woodcraft Industries

The Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC)

The Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative (CWWC) is a partnership that delivers a unified approach to serve industry, support economic development and guide public workforce investments in the Portland-Southwest Washington area. Members are Clackamas Workforce Partnership, Workforce Southwest Washington and Worksystems. The three organizations have been collaborating for approximately 12 years and their partnership has brought nearly $61 million of funding for workforce development into the Portland-Southwest Washington metro area.

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