PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 
COMMISSION AGENDA               Item No.      7a 
STAFF BRIEFING 
Date of Meeting     April 12. 2016 
DATE:    April 5, 2016 
TO:     Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Dave McFadden and Marie Kurose 
SUBJECT:  Workforce Development Briefing 
SYNOPSIS 
The Port of Seattle is committed to using its leadership and institutional assets to grow
middle-class jobs and increase equity in employment. Through its Century Agenda and
subsequent Commission actions, the Port recognizes workforce development is critical to
achieving the Port's economic development mission. In 2016, the Port has substantiated
this commitment by more than doubling its financial investment in workforce
development. 
The Port's workforce development initiatives provide a roadmap and overarching
principles to strengthen the Port's key sectors by ensuring they enjoy a robust talent
pipeline. They also leverage the Port's leadership and influence to create high quality
jobs, increase access to good jobs, as well as to support career advancement, and expand
incomes and shared prosperity for our community. 
BACKGROUND 
The Century Agenda, adopted in December 2012, expresses the Port's vision of adding
100,000 jobs over 25 years through economic growth it leads while creating economic
opportunity for all and promoting social responsibility, and affirms its commitment to
using its influence to promote workforce development as an integral part of achieving
these goals. The Port's Commission, recognizing the economic and societal impacts of
income inequality and the decline of the middle-class, adopted the Increasing
Workforce Development and Career Opportunities Activities motion in July 2014.
The motion further articulated the Port's major goals for workforce development: 
Identify the current and future workforce demands of Port-related industries. 
Support the development of a supply of qualified candidates in alignment with
industry demand. 


Template revised May 30, 2013.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
Date memo was drafted OR updated 
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Ensure that all members of the community the Port serves have access to quality
jobs in Port-related industries, and increased opportunities for career
advancement. 
Work to make all jobs at Port-owned facilities quality jobs. 
Integrate the Port's efforts and use its influence to increase the capacity and
efficiency of the regional workforce development system. 
Why Workforce Development 
The economy is marked by growing income inequality, with growth occurring at the
highest and lowest income levels. At the same time, those in the middle are losing
ground: they no longer make up of a majority of the population and are falling behind
financially. And people of color are disproportionately represented in low income jobs
and unemployment. 
Although middle class jobs are declining overall, Port-related sectors of the Seattle-King
County economy are projected to generate thousands of job openings in the years ahead
(due to both growth and replacement needs). Construction is projected to grow faster
than average, especially in the near term, adding almost 14,000 jobs between 2013 and
2018. The manufacturing outlook varies by subsector, with some such as machinery
manufacturing projected to grow faster than average and others such as aerospace
manufacturing projected to decrease. Transportation and warehousing is also projected to
grow, although at a slower than average rate. 
Many of these port-related sectors are a good source of family wage jobs. For example,
53 percent of all construction jobs in Seattle-King County pay more than $30 an hour; for
manufacturing the figure is 49 percent and transportation and warehousing, 36 percent. 
Across all industries, the aging workforce and declining unemployment rates are making
it increasingly difficult for employers to find available skilled workers. Future jobs will
continue to require even higher levels of skills  even for those traditionally entry level
positions. Additionally, the baby boomer retirement and growing diversity of the
population are changing the nature of the workforce. 
This economic context of a declining middle class and the overrepresentation of people
of color in lower income households speaks to the importance of growing quality, family
wage jobs and increasing access to these jobs. Rather than seeing these as shortcomings,
this is an opportunity to focus the region's workforce development efforts. Sustaining
and expanding the middle class will contribute to a stronger economy. And as the
population grows more diverse and people of color become the majority, equity and
inclusion has become an urgent economic imperative.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
Date memo was drafted OR updated 
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The Port of Seattle can advance its interest in quality, family wage jobs and equity in
employment by helping to grow family wage jobs in port-related sectors through its
economic development efforts. The strategic investments are designed to connect target
populations and priority communities to family wage jobs in port-related sectors;
promote career advancement for those in lower wage, lower skill jobs; and improve the
quality of such jobs. 
Strengthening Port Sectors 
The sector approach is aligned with the Port's economic development and community
impact goals by explicitly linking the goals of economic development and business
competitiveness with workforce development and economic inclusion at the same time.
This approach also benefits workers by creating new pathways into the industry and to
good jobs and careers. Sector approaches are tailored to the specific industry and seek to
increase responsiveness and efficiencies through coordinated planning, collaboration, and
shared measurement. 
Workforce Development Long Range Plan 
The Workforce Development Long Range Plan (LRP) represents the efforts of a cross
functional team at the Port to align our actions and tasks with the Century Agenda's
strategies and objectives. Its implementation allows the Port to more effectively and
transparently improve the Port's ability to support the local economy by creating 100,000
new jobs for the Puget Sound region, while achieving it's commitment to increasing selfsufficiency
and employment equity for those employed in port-related industries. 
In order to ensure a "One-Port" participation and ownership of the Century Agenda, a 
cross-functional internal team was created between June and September 2015. The LRP
process provided an opportunity to leverage our internal expertise and resources to create
an overarching framework and roadmap for achieving the Century Agenda's
commitments. It unifies and builds on the Century Agenda, Workforce Development
Motion (adopted July2014) and strategic investment plan, It also provides a foundation
for the Workforce Development Policy Guidance and Directives. 
Strategies 
I.    Leverage Port leadership and influence to promote career pathways, equity in
employment, and job quality for workers at the Port and at Port-related
businesses. 
II.    Use Port owned facilities, real estate development, and other economic
development efforts to anchor local economic growth. 
III.    Develop a stable, ongoing, dedicated funding source to ensure continuity of the
Port's investments in workforce development.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
Date memo was drafted OR updated 
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IV.   Utilize Port's position as an Employer to participate in and provide training,
employment, internships and community partnerships in support of workforce
development goals. 
V.   Strengthen and leverage community and industry relationships. 
2016 Workforce Development Investments 
The 2016 workforce development investments significantly expand the Port's role and
influence in key Port sectors. Our investments in Comprehensive Career Pathways
encompass a portfolio of sector-based workforce development strategies designed to meet
the skill and workforce needs of employers by creating opportunities for workers and jobseekers
, including those with low skills, enter employment and advance within a target
industry sector towards higher-skill, higher-wage jobs. Investments are focused on portrelated
industries and include Airport, Manufacturing, Trades and Maritime sectors.
Investments fall into the following areas: 
Research, planning, outreach and engagement, and facilitation to develop a career
pathways program and implementation plan.
Job access services, job-training services, and career advancement services 
Career readiness, skills development high school transitions 
Partnerships with workforce development, education and training, and human
service entities to sustain career pathways that provide employees advancement
opportunities while meeting the short and long term needs of industry sectors 
The Comprehensive Career Pathways strategic investments are designed to articulate the
Port's role and expanded commitment to workforce development, by enhancing and
building on the Port's vision of creating family wage jobs in the region by strengthening
port-related industry sectors. They also support the Port's commitments to increasing
self-sufficiency and employment equity for people employed in Port-related jobs by:
Supporting job creation by providing employers with skilled workers required to
sustain and grow their businesses. 
Providing a pipeline of employees who are able to meet the workforce needs of
employers 
Improving the earning power and self-sufficiency of low-income workers

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
Date memo was drafted OR updated 
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SECTOR/          2015        2016 INCREASE     2016    TOTAL 5-
STRATEGY                                 TOTAL    YEAR
INVESTMENT 
AIRPORT       Airport Jobs/      Career Pathways      $925,000   $4,625,000 
University $750K    Research & Pilot
+$175k 
MARITIME                    Career Pathways     $150,000    $750,000 
Training + $150K 

CONSTRUCTION   ANEW/AOP $200K   Regional Trades     $710,000   $3,550,000 
TRADES                    Partnership +$510K 
MANUFACTURING               Pilot +$150K       $150,000    $750,000 

YOUTH        HS Interns $64K *   Core Plus +$200k     $309,000   $1,225,000 
STRATEGY                   HS Interns + $45K 

TOTAL BUDGET    $1,014,000      +$1,230,000    $2.244M   $11.220M 

Airport Sector: SeaTac operations (passenger air, air cargo) and supportive
occupations (logistics, maintenance, restaurant/hospitality, and retail) 
The Airport's rapid growth and planned expansion will increase the need to recruit, retain
and support the career advancement efforts of this segment of the labor force. The 
workforce development approach also takes into account key provisions contained in
Resolution 3694, which identify the need for "improved levels of general training,
education, and/or work experience, employee qualifications for advancement, and
corresponding compensation incentives in order to attract and retain a high-quality
workforce for the purposes of ensuring a safe and secure Airport." 
On September 22, 2015, the Commission approved increased investments and a phased
approach to support training, career advancement, and retention services for Airport
workers: 
Airport Employment Center & Employment Continuity Contract: Port Jobs was
awarded the contract to administer and operate the Airport Employment Center
through a competitive RFP process. The contract will start on July 1, 2016 with a
total five-year contract value of $4.050 M.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
Date memo was drafted OR updated 
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Complete Career Pathways Road Map (Q3 2016):
Implement Career Pathways Training (2017) 
Maritime Sector: Passenger Water Transportation, Boat & Ship Building, Fishing
& Food Processing, Logistics and Maritime Support 
To date, the maritime sector has not established a comprehensive and ongoing workforce
development program. However, with expansion and increased demand for workers, the
industry has prioritized workforce development. Elements of the maritime strategy
developed in partnership with the Washington Maritime Federation and the Washington
Maritime Workforce Initiative Committeeinclude: 
Complete Career Pathways Road Map: Labor Market Research to identify indemand
jobs and wages; focus groups, interviews and surveys; and identification
of the education, training, employment, and support service needs of job seekers
and workers. (Q4 2016) 

Explore Models for Implementation: (Q3 2016) 
o  Jobs at Sea  Pre-apprenticeship and Apprenticeship
o  Jobs Ashore  Maritime welding, pipefitting, pipe welding, electrical,
electronics, diesel mechanics, or refrigeration/HVAC 
Explore Maritime Jobs Portal (Q4 2016) 
The Port's investment will provide the funding needed to leverage additional public and
private investments needed to scale the programs. 
Construction Sector: Building Trades, Maintenance, Heavy & Civil Engineering,
Specialty Trades Contractors 
The Port's growing investments in infrastructure projects at the Airport and other capital
developments will rely on the availability of a skilled trades workforce. Public and
private construction activity has increased and is projected to continue to grow over the
next decade. Contractors on Port and other projects are beginning to report worker
shortages across all trades. These shortages will cause project delays, and increase the
overall cost to the Port as well as other public and private developers. Additionally, the
demand for trades workers is growing in the manufacturing and maritime sectors who are
reporting difficulty finding and retaining trades workers due to increased competition and
wages being paid in the construction sector.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
Date memo was drafted OR updated 
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Regional Construction Trades Partnership: Development and implementation of a
Regional Trades Partnership, a coordinated approach of the key public agencies. 
This will strategically align the Port's workforce development investments with
port construction projects, as well as partner with other public agencies to create a
regional trades pipeline and system to coordinate planning, funding and support
functions. The Port's investment will be pooled or co-invested to support
expanded outreach, pre-apprenticeship training, support services, and strategies to
increase apprentice retention and completion rates.
Apprentice Utilization Requirements/Port Project Labor Agreements: Analyze
City's Priority/Targeted Hire program policies and outcomes. 
Port Internal Apprentice Utilization: Identify opportunities to establish apprentice
opportunities within the Port's internal workforce. 
Strengthening High School Career Pathways 
Workforce development needs to include both efforts aimed at both youth and adults to
create a pool of workers that aligns with the needs of industry. Building a pipeline of
workers to prepare the future workforce requires connecting employers with high schools
and other secondary institutions and providing exposure for youth to careers. Core Plus
and the High School Internship programs are aimed at providing youth with career
awareness and basic skills needed to enter training and/or careers in port related
industries. 
Core Plus Basic Occupations High School to Industry/Post-Secondary Transition 
Core Plus addresses the "skills gap" in which many young adults lack the skills and work
ethic needed for many jobs  particularly those that pay a middle-high wage. Core Plus
is an established, industry-validated, career-related, STEM-based high school learning
model. The "core" refers to skills in shop safety, applied math, material science, and
teamwork along with tool, equipment and keyboard technologies applicable to entry-level
requirements for virtually all high-wage industrial sectors. The "plus" refers to
specialized training specific to a single sector such as aircraft manufacturing, construction
trades, or marine technology. Core Plus's goal is to provide youth with the core skills
and knowledge needed to transition from high school to post-secondary education,
employment, apprenticeship, and/or career training in basic industry occupations. Port
funds will support the expansion of Core Plus to the basic industries sector including
those in the construction, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, utilities, and
wholesale trade industries.

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
Date memo was drafted OR updated 
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High School Internship Program 
Staff is working to triple summer internship opportunities in 2016. The Commission
supported this aggressive increase in youth opportunities by increasing funding from
$64,000 to $109,000 in the 2016 budget. As part of this initiative, staff is looking to
establish a challenge grant that encourages maritime, industrial, manufacturing and other
port-related employers to hire new high school interns. This effort will increase the
number of high school summer intern opportunities, placed at the Port and with other
employers, from eight last year to approximately one hundred and fourteen (114) in 2016. 
2016
Port High School Internships               2015               Unbudgeted 
Budgeted 
HS - Port internship opportunities           8         25          25 
HS  Key Cluster Employer Partnership                 20 
Total HS Internships      8         45          70 
Additional College Internships             26        44         44 
Total Port Internships     34         89          114 
High School Fellowship (new program)                         100 
*The POS also offers shorter career exploration fairs and learning opportunities in partnership with local schools 
Manufacturing Sector: Food processing, fabricated metal products, industrial 
machinery, textiles and apparel and transportation equipment 
In response to Commissioner's requests, staff has worked with a number of regional
partners and stakeholders (industry, community, educators, and government) to identify
the workforce development needs, gaps and opportunities to strengthen workforce
development efforts in the manufacturing sector. These efforts include mapping existing
workforce development efforts and convening industry representatives and other
workforce development and training stakeholders to identify priorities and potential
partnership opportunities for the Port. These include: Center for Advanced
Manufacturing Puget Sound (CAMPS); IMPACT WA; and Seattle College Initiatives. 
ATTACHMENTS TO THIS BRIEFING 
PPT presentation 
PREVIOUS COMMISSION ACTIONS OR BRIEFINGS 
September 22, 2015 - Airport Workforce Development Services Continuity and
Expansion 
July 12, 2015  2016 RFP and Contract Authorization Request (Airport) 
June 23, 2015  Airport Workforce Development Services

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Ted Fick, Chief Executive Officer 
Date memo was drafted OR updated 
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May 26, 2015  Workforce Development Briefing and Recommendations 
November 11, 2014  Workforce Development Briefing 
September 30, 2014  Workforce Development Expansion Strategy 
July 22, 2014  Commission adoption of Resolution 3694 as amended 
July 1, 2014  Commission adoption of Workforce Development Motion 
December 4, 2012  Commission adoption of the Century Agenda