Workforce

Looking to fill open jobs in Tacoma-Pierce County? You won’t have to look far. Nine regional colleges and universities, along with 12 technical schools, produce thousands of career-ready graduates each year. The highly ranked University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, Pierce College, Tacoma Community College, Clover Park Technical College and Bates Technical College are among the many institutions of higher learning that prepare the workforce in Tacoma for established and emerging industries. For more information, visit our Universities page.

Tacoma-Pierce County provides all the tools you need to find and cultivate fresh talent for your business. Statewide workforce programs like WorkForce Central and Washington’s Job Skills Program help meet employers’ needs in recruiting and training employees. In addition, the Customized Training Program run by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) pays the costs up front for customized training. Washington’s Worker Retraining Funding (WRT) program also provides funding for training or retraining of eligible workers, assisting them on their journey to re-employment. On a local level, the Local Employment and Apprenticeship Training Program (LEAP) enables City of Tacoma residents to access apprenticeship programs through partnerships with local workforce development providers.

The South Puget Sound hosts two major military installations, Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Naval Base Kitsap, as well as the state headquarters of the Washington National Guard at Camp Murray. These institutions generate a steady stream of veterans, transitioning soldiers and families who bring significant contributions and talent to the region’s workforce. To aid the transition into civilian careers, the Service Member for Life Transition Assistance Program (SFL-TAP) offers job fairs, quarterly networking gatherings, employer spotlight events, weekly brown bag information sessions, job posting services and more.