Business Services

Workforce Development Council (WDC) staff and the WorkSource system serve the business community within Snohomish County by offering a wide range of employment and training programs and services. Both large and small businesses can find services-- from customized training and direct hiring events to more specialized fee-for-service offerings such as drug screening, reference and background checks, and other human resource related workshops and activities.

The Enhanced Business Services Account Executives have been assigned to targeted growth industry sectors as outlined in Snohomish County 2010: A Blueprint for Education, Workforce and Economic Development. The Account Executives provide businesses within these sectors with personalized services and can assist with wage, demand and labor market data, direct hiring events such as job fairs, specialized hiring at the WorkSource Center or on-site at the company, connection with rapid response staff in the event of a company downsizing, employee retention strategies, connection with a customized training professional who can offer training options for new hires, current employees, upgrade training options, on-the-job training and a variety of funding solutions that will address your company's training needs.

Additionally, The Workforce Development Council has established three industry-led Skills Panels. Organizations involved in Aerospace, Construction, and Health Services provide up-to-date local information about the workforce needs specific to each sector. Skills Panels work on identifying both short term and long term solutions to skills gap issues, career pipeline/pathway strategies, emerging technology and the impact on productivity, and maintaining or improving competitive advantage within the county, the Central Puget Sound region, the State of Washington, and worldwide. Each panel is led by a skilled coordinator with ties to and a passion for the industry. Please note the events section of the web site for upcoming conferences or other activities sponsored by the Skills Panels.

Whether your business interests involve finding the right employees; training new and existing workers; finding current labor market information; or proactively addressing your future workforce needs by being a member of a skills panel, the WDC and WorkSource can offer you the right solution for your business need.

WorkSource Snohomish County wants to provide you the same excellent service online as we do at our Centers. We host job fairs and provide on-site recruiting in both our Lynnwood and Everett Centers . Now you can use our online job posting form to post your job listings and review labor market information. For personal and more in depth services you can call our office at (425) 258-6330 , email at snocntybizteam@esd.wa.gov.

The Snohomish County Worksource can assist your company with a number of services to assist your company if there is ever a reduction in your work force. There are a number of laws that must be complied with when there is a layoff in your business. A WARN  ( Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notice) notice is required by employers with more than 100 employees. Details can be found on the Employment Security web site at http://access.wa.gov or by calling the Snohomish County Worksource office at

425-258-6330. There are other programs to aid businesses retain employees during business downturns, the Shared Work program allows employees to work part time and collect unemployment at the same time. More information on this program can be found at

www.wa.gov/esd/tax/sharedwk.htm.

Every employer in Washington State is eligible to list their jobs at no charge on the Washington Employment web site. Businesses can register to list jobs by going online to www.go2worksource.biz. Assistance for using this service can be obtained by calling 425-258-6330.

Worksource has variety of methods to help Employers find new employees. Worksource can aid employers by: Holding job fairs, Recruiting events, Employee screening and space and assistance for on site recruiting.

Worksource maintains a searchable database of potential Employees. The database is searchable by location industry type and by specific word. Access by registered employers can be found at www.go2worksource.biz.

Worksource supports a number of training programs funded by the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). These funds are directed at training adults and youth. The training is to provide individuals employable job skills or to train incumbent workers to prevent job loss. There are also a number grant programs that are aimed at specific industries and businesses and are funded by grants. For more information contact the Snohomish County Workforce Development Council at (425) 921-3423.

Worksource assists business by providing current information on economic trends and establishes Skills panels to address the issues of targeted industries. The panels are comprised of industry leaders, Educational Institutions and members of the WDC. The panels are empowered to create workable plans to address the needs of their particular industry. The WDC has also assigned individuals from their staff to specific industries, to promote and monitor industry activity.

The State of Washington also maintains a web site to provide businesses information that is important for their economic well being. Please visit www.workforceexplorer.com

The Snohomish County WorkSource Business Services Group is available as a resource to the Business community. The Business Services Group can help employers navigate the WorkSource system and explain all of the services it provides.