SEQUIM — A program that helps unemployed people find work wants employers to help design the programs that train potential employees.
That way, as jobs become available, a pool of qualified workers already exists.
That was the message Tuesday to the Sequim Chamber of Commerce by Dylan Honnold of the Clallam County Economic Development Council and Brian Walsh of the Peninsula College Work First program.
They were discussing the Bridge grant, a $50,000 award from the state Community Trade and Economic Development Department to help existing public and private entities coordinate job training and recruitment services.
Honnold presented statistics showing that employment in the area had increased rapidly between 2000 and 2003, and made another significant jump in 2004.
‘More jobs are coming’
“These [numbers] suggest to us that there are jobs out there. More jobs are coming,” he said.
“We’re running out of people to fill these jobs.”
To help meet demand, economic development groups sought the grant to build a different kind of training program — one in which the potential employers decide what kind of skills they’re looking for in employees.
Those criteria guide the development of training programs, which are free to employers and participants.
Several industries were identified as having the potential to benefit from the program, including timber, construction, retail sales, hospitality, composites and healthcare.
Training programs have already been established for retail and construction training, Walsh said.
His agency is also open to help other businesses — although preference is given to jobs that are not seasonal and provide opportunities for advancement.