WakeWorks Workforce Development Board

WakeWorks Workforce Development Board
Name	WakeWorks Workforce Development Board
Headquarters	Raleigh, North Carolina
Region served	Wake County, North Carolina
Leader title	Executive Director

WakeWorks Workforce Development Board is a regional workforce planning and oversight body headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina that coordinates employment, training, and labor market initiatives across Wake County. The board interfaces with federal, state, and local institutions to align workforce investments with industry demand in sectors such as healthcare, information technology, advanced manufacturing, and construction. It convenes employers, educational institutions, labor organizations, and community-based providers to implement policies and programs informed by labor market data and federal workforce legislation.

Overview

WakeWorks operates within the workforce development system that links federal funding streams from the United States Department of Labor and guidance under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act with state agencies such as the North Carolina Department of Commerce and regional stakeholders like the Research Triangle Foundation. The board collaborates with higher education partners including North Carolina State University, Wake Technical Community College, Duke University, and North Carolina Central University to create credentials and apprenticeship pathways recognized by employers such as IBM, Cisco Systems, Rex Healthcare, SAS Institute, and regional health systems. WakeWorks works alongside economic development entities like Wake County Economic Development and municipal governments including the City of Raleigh, Town of Cary, and City of Garner to target workforce investments that support initiatives led by organizations such as Raleigh Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

History and Formation

WakeWorks emerged from the reorganization and federal designation processes that followed extensions of workforce policy under the Workforce Investment Act and subsequent replacement by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Its formation involved local elected officials from Wake County Board of Commissioners, municipal leaders, and civic stakeholders in response to shifting labor demand driven by employers like GlaxoSmithKline, Cisco, and the expanding Research Triangle Park. Early convenings included representatives from workforce intermediaries, community organizations such as United Way of Wake County, and training providers including Goodwill Industries and ManpowerGroup. State-level coordination tied WakeWorks’ creation to reforms enacted by the North Carolina General Assembly and administrative oversight by the North Carolina Community College System.

Governance and Structure

The board’s governance model features a business-majority composition drawn from sectors represented by firms like Bank of America, PNC Financial Services, Lenoir-Rhyne University alumni networks, and executive leaders from WakeMed Health and Hospitals and Carolinas HealthCare System affiliates. Elected officials from bodies such as the Wake County Board of Commissioners and municipal councils provide public sector representation alongside labor leaders from unions affiliated with the AFL–CIO and apprenticeship coordinators from Associated Builders and Contractors. Operational structure includes committees focused on employer engagement, youth services, performance oversight, and finance, with staff coordinating with state partners including the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services for targeted occupational training. The board adheres to accountability requirements monitored by the United States Government Accountability Office and state auditors.

Programs and Services

WakeWorks administers programs that include employment placement, occupational skills training, registered apprenticeships, incumbent worker training, and youth workforce initiatives. Programmatic partnerships link to credential programs at Wake Technical Community College, certificate pipelines with NC State University Global, and apprenticeship frameworks supported by ApprenticeshipNC and industry groups like Manufacturers Association of North Carolina. Services connect jobseekers to career navigation provided by workforce centers linked to American Job Centers and partner organizations including CareerSource affiliates, Goodwill Industries International, and veterans' services coordinated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Special initiatives target sectors with demand from employers such as Fidelity Investments, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, and technology firms in Research Triangle Park.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding for WakeWorks derives from federal sources administered by the United States Department of Labor under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, state allocations from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, and local contributions from Wake County Government and municipal partners. Additional financial and in-kind support comes through philanthropic collaborations with The Duke Endowment, foundations such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, and employer investments via sector partnerships with corporations like Cisco Systems, Lenovo, and regional health systems including UNC Health. Grant partnerships for targeted initiatives have involved national intermediaries including National Fund for Workforce Solutions, research organizations such as the Brookings Institution, and technical assistance from JFF (Jobs for the Future).

Performance and Impact

WakeWorks measures outcomes through performance metrics aligned with federal indicators—employment rate, median earnings, credential attainment, and measurable skill gains—benchmarked against peers in metropolitan regions like the Charlotte metropolitan area and Research Triangle region. Evaluations by independent analysts and technical partners such as Mathematica Policy Research and Urban Institute inform continuous improvement. Impact areas include increased credentialing through Wake Technical Community College partnerships, employer-reported hiring pipelines for firms like SAS Institute and IBM, and youth employment outcomes connected to programs run in coordination with Wake County Public School System and community partners including United Way of the Greater Triangle. The board’s strategies aim to align workforce supply with the needs of major employers, regional economic development plans, and state workforce priorities set by entities like the North Carolina Economic Development Partnership.

Category:Workforce development