A Growing Green Economy: Opportunities for Tomorrow (April 2009)

Seattle Jobs Initiative recently completed a report for the National Network of Sector Partners on the growing green economy and sector strategies related to this growth. A Growing Green Economy: Opportunities of Tomorrow provides a foundation of knowledge about emerging green sectors, with particular emphasis on the Puget Sound region and the energy efficiency sector. Topics covered include policy, investment, labor marketing impacts and training opportunities. The work culminates in recommendations for others who are interested in doing similar research and development in emerging green sectors. Funding support was provided by NNSP and the City of Seattle's Office of Economic Development.

SJI Job Trends Reports

• SJI Job Trends Report: Focus on Public Utilities, January 2009 (PDF, 182K)
• SJI Job Trends Report: Focus on Green Jobs, July 2008 (PDF, 562K)
• SJI Job Trends Report: Focus on Leisure & Hospitality, December 2007 (PDF, 473K)
• SJI Job Trends Report: Focus on Construction, September 2007 (PDF, 710K)
• Archived Labor Market Reports

Middle Wage Jobs

A new report from SJI confirms that middle-wage jobs -- those jobs that pay a livable wage and require some training beyond high school but not a 4-year degree -- are and will continue to support key industries in the Puget Sound region.  This work supplements an earlier working paper, detailing middle-wage occupations expected to grow in each industry as well as available and accessible training opportunities in the region. 

• Skills Required: Preparing Puget Sound for Tomorrow's Middle Wage Jobs
  Paul Sommers, Ph.D, Mark Gardner, and Juliet Scarpa. 03/2008
  • Brief Overview (PDF, 70K)
• Executive Summary (PDF, 45K)
• Full Report (PDF, 312K)

Peer Learning Group Work

Seattle Jobs Initiative has been playing a convening role with local agencies and community colleges. The goal of the Peer Learning Group is to make recommendations on what system-wide college prep courses would look like. The following report, released in February 2009, includes recommendations from the collaborative group.

• On Ramps and Bridges: Building Community Pipelines to Community College Certificate and Degree Attainment

Supported by the Working Poor Families Project as well as the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development, this report examines the role the state can play in instituting the career pathways framework, which can be a key strategy for linking low-income, low-skilled adults to education and training that leads to family supporting jobs.  The report should serve as a resource for other states that are interested in utilizing a career pathways framework.

• Charting a Path: An Exploration of the Statewide Career Pathway Efforts in Arkansas, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin (PDF, 12MB)

Working Poor Families Update (March 2007)

Recent job growth is helping some working poor families, but an uneven recovery keeps many families stressed.

• The Status of Working Poor Families in Washington: An Update (PDF, 328K)

Bridging the Gaps (January 2008)

• Bridging the Gaps in Washington: A Research Brief of Findings and Policy Recommendations for Work Supports that Work (PDF, 100 K)
• Bridging the Gaps National Report (HTML)

Brief on 2008 Legislative Session
Seattle Jobs Initiative released a brief on the 2008 Washington State legislative session.  The brief analyzes legislation affecting employment and training for low-income residents.

• 2008 Legislative Brief

SJI Lessons Learned from King County Food Stamp Employment & Training (FSET) Pilot

• Lessons Learned: 6 Month Evaluation
• Lessons Learned: 6 Month Evaluation Attachment (Program Descriptions)
• Lessons Learned: 18 Month Evaluation
• Lessons Learned from Massachusetts, Texas, San Francisco and Wisconsin