Economic Development Week: Focus on Workforce

Economic development can take many forms, and for Economic Development Week, May 6-10, we’ll be sharing some of the ways in which EDSAC applies economic development practices to the needs of businesses and the community.

Project: NW Regional Job Fairs

Challenge/Need: Across all industries, businesses are having a hard time attracting and retaining talent.
Solution: EDASC regularly hosts job fairs connecting job seekers with local employers. Since 2022 EDASC has hosted five job fairs, each drawing 40 to 60 businesses while averaging over 100 job seekers, and about 1,000 total interactions between employers and candidates. 

EDASC’s role: EDASC hosts each job fair in partnership with Skagit WorkSource, which helps market and amplify the events to job seekers. Skagit-Island Human Resources Management Association supports each event, helping job seekers connect with employers who have openings that are good fits.

Economic development perspective: Recruiting and retaining talent is key for business success. EDASC workforce development initiatives often work through connections. For instance, EDASC connects businesses with educational institutions to foster the growth of new workforce pipelines. In the case of the job fairs, EDASC is creating a venue that otherwise wouldn’t exist for job seekers and employers to meet face-to-face to fill job openings.

Employer speaks: 
“EDASC’s job fairs have proven to be invaluable for Silfab Solar, offering an engaging platform to connect with a diverse pool of talent. Not only do job fairs provide an opportunity to showcase our company culture and employer value proposition, but they also facilitate face-to-face interactions that allow us to gauge candidates' skills while building genuine connection. We especially appreciate EDASC’s customized support for our organization as a job fair exhibitor, ensuring the best possible experience. Through hiring events like these, we've been able to successfully recruit top talent and strengthen our workforce, ultimately contributing to our continued growth and success.”
Samantha Calkins
HR Manager, Silfab Solar
Burlington, WA