Newsroom

By Kevin Williams, CEO

Spokane Workforce Council

September is Workforce Development Professionals Month, a time to recognize the dedicated professionals who work every day to connect people, businesses, and communities to opportunity. Across the WorkSource Campus, our workforce development partners are collaborating daily to help job seekers build skills, find employment, and achieve their career goals while supporting employers in finding the talent they need to grow.

This month also gives us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of our workforce system and the people behind it. Recently, we held our 8th Annual WorkSource System Conference, bringing together more than 100 workforce system partners for a day of learning, fellowship, collaboration, and celebration. The conference was a wonderful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together with a shared commitment to serving our communities.

From the front lines of customer service to behind-the-scenes coordination and partnership building, the work happening on our SWC/WorkSource Campus and in the community each day makes a difference. We are proud to recognize the professionals who bring energy, expertise, and compassion to this work and who continue to make our workforce system stronger.

Happy Workforce Development Professionals Month! Thank you to everyone who shows up each day to create pathways to opportunity and strengthen our community.

Key Industry Highlights:

• Transportation & Material Moving added the most jobs of any occupation group, +5,300 and growing. Food Preparation (+3,300) and Healthcare Support (+3,100) aren’t far behind. These are the roles employers should be building hiring and training pipelines around right now.

  
  

• Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles lead all job postings, averaging over 1,100 unique postings a month. Sales and Related (~570) and Management (~480) round out the top three, showing where employer demand is concentrated right now.

  
  

• Unemployment dropped to 3.4% in July 2026, down from 5.00% five years ago. A tighter labor market means employers are competing harder for workers, making it even more critical to align training with where the openings actually are.

  
  

• 10,238 people graduated from local schools in 2025, a number that’s held flat for five years, even as the job market keeps growing. If our talent pipeline doesn’t scale alongside job creation, employers will keep feeling the pinch on filling open roles.

Innovia Foundation Invests in “You Belong at Next Gen”

We are incredibly grateful to the Innovia Foundation for a $10,000 Community Grant supporting “You Belong at Next Gen”, a new effort at the Next Generation Zone built on a simple idea: young people who feel known and connected keep showing up, work through setbacks, and finish what they start.

This funding will help us expand student-led clubs and monthly events, remove the barriers that keep young people from participating in the first place, and support youth and young adults through completion of our Essential Skills Academy.

Innovia has been a steady partner to our work in this community for years, and this grant is one more example of what that partnership makes possible. Thank you for investing in the futures of the young people at the Next Generation Zone, and for believing that belonging is where it starts. Learn More: “You Belong at Next Gen”

The following success stories are from Innovia Foundation scholarship recipients

Annabella Everano

Western Washington University | Studio Art | Expected Graduation: 2029

Annabella finished her first year strong with a 3.65 GPA, passing all of her classes after a rocky start on her very first college exam. She accomplished all of her goals for the semester – finishing strong, staying consistent, and prioritizing her grades – and then some. She built new friendships, stayed connected through Bible study, and found genuine enjoyment in her education. Moving 6 hours from her family was her biggest personal challenge, but she found grounding through her faith. She is currently employed at Fresh Soul Restaurant in Spokane this summer.

Kristiana Da Jose
Junior | Gonzaga University
Expected Graduation: 2029

This was one of Kristiana’s most demanding years yet, and she finished strong. She worked two jobs, balanced two of her toughest courses (Ecology and Genetics), stayed active in FASU, AAU, KSA, and Science in Action, and lived independently for the first time. She performed at FASU’s Barrio Festival and attended the NWFASA conference in Bellingham, where she engaged in powerful conversations around immigration, identity, and advocacy.

Balancing academics, work, and mentorship in Science in Action deepened her passion for science while building her discipline and resilience. Support from her mentor at the Next Generation Zone helped her stay grounded, and the Innovia scholarship eased financial stress so she could focus more on academics and community involvement. She’s now working on setting boundaries, prioritizing rest, and asking for support, skills that will serve her well as she continues to grow.

In their own words:

“Thank you to Innovia Foundation for supporting my academic and personal journey. Your generosity makes a real difference”

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