Workforce Development

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Workforce development refers to programs that build the skills, knowledge and abilities our community members need to find and land quality jobs. It includes preparing people for employment and supporting career advancement. It’s an issue that requires a community-wide effort to make progress, because it takes initiatives in a wide range of areas – such as transportation, childcare, and digital access – that remove obstacles preventing people from landing good jobs.

Education is key, because those of us seeking jobs need opportunities to develop skills. Colleges, universities, K-12 career pathways, and accessible training programs are needed to pair jobseekers with employers, and to help workers adapt to changing technology.

By connecting our residents – particularly those facing barriers to opportunity – to good jobs with living wages, our communities can increase household incomes, which strengthen local tax bases and boost economic mobility.

With so much at stake economically, finding ways to support programs offered by nonprofits and our local governments that improve workforce development is more important than ever.

Why it matters locallyWhat is happening now (current state)

Charlotte has experienced broad economic shifts, from our agricultural roots to our position as the center of the Carolinas’ textile manufacturing industry to becoming a hub of global finance.

Today, Charlotte is one of the top U.S. banking centers, which has created demand for skilled finance, IT, and professional services workers.With rapid population and business growth, the need for a thriving labor force has heightened. More residents mean more demand for career advancement for all of our workers, not just management.

The region’s workforce development efforts embrace initiatives that offer solid paths to good jobs for all of us and have a long-lasting impact.

One example is Charlotte’s transportation and transit plan that passed in 2025 – a $19.4 billion investment that will pump money into public transportation (including new rail lines and expanded bus services), and update infrastructure over a 30-year span.

Efforts like these will boost our transportation and transit options – and job opportunities – as Charlotte’s population continues to grow.

Charlotte Works leads the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Providers Council (WPC), a collection of 15 organizations that support businesses while developing workers and removing obstacles to advancement.

The goal is to ensure that people from every neighborhood and background can thrive in careers that sustain our families and expand our community’s economic mobility.

Source body (legacy synthetic packet, optional)

Workforce development is often described as training, but training is only one part of the pathway. People also need information about careers, help choosing realistic next steps, support completing programs, connections to employers, and jobs that offer stability and advancement. A strong workforce system helps residents move from interest to preparation to employment to growth.

The barriers people face are rarely limited to skills. A person may want to train for a better job but lack child care, transportation, a device, reliable internet, stable housing, health support, or a schedule that fits program requirements. These conditions can determine who gets to start, who finishes, and who can accept a job afterward.

Employer partnerships matter because programs should connect to real opportunities. Credentials are most valuable when employers understand them, request them, and use them in hiring and advancement. Work-based learning can help people build experience and relationships, especially when they do not already have professional networks.

Job quality is part of the civic conversation. A job can be available and still fail to support stability if wages, schedules, safety, benefits, or advancement are weak. Retention and mobility depend on whether work supports the rest of life. For families, job quality can affect housing stability, health, caregiving, and children's routines.

Technology is changing workforce needs. AI and automation may alter tasks, hiring processes, customer service, logistics, administration, and professional work. Residents and employers need practical learning opportunities that build digital confidence and adaptability. The goal is not only to fill current openings, but to help people and institutions keep learning as work changes.

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6 facts
14 organizations
5 tools
5 articles
6 glossary terms
6 take-action items

Key facts

1.6M labor force workers in the Charlotte metro area source
3.4 percent unemployment rate in the Charlotte region source
$32.55 average hourly wage for workers in the Charlotte region source
27K degrees and certifications conferred annually by colleges and universities in the Charlotte region
45% of Charlotteans have a bachelor’s degree or higher
20% of Charlotte’s population growth from 2015 to 2020 was young professionals

Key organizations

Apprenticeship NCConnects employers and individuals through paid work-based learning opportunities that lead to industry-recognized credentials.apprenticeshipnc.com
CakeableNonprofit provides vocational training opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilitieswearecakeable.org
The Center for Community TransitionsNonprofit helps people with criminal records transition back into their communitiescenterforcommunitytransitions.org
Central Piedmont Community CollegeFuels Charlotte’s workforce by offering accessible, industry-aligned training and apprenticeships.cpcc.edu
Charlotte Executive Leadership CouncilA coalition of CEOs committed to positioning Charlotte as a national leader in economic vitality, equitable opportunity and better quality of life for all.charlotteelc.com
Charlotte Regional Business AllianceSupports business growth and regional economic development through advocacy, recruitment and partnerships.charlotteregion.com
Charlotte WorksServes as the region’s workforce development board, aligning education, training and employment efforts to meet labor market needs.charlotteworks.com
Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is the public school district serving the county, offering K-12 education and career readiness initiatives like the 3E strategy.cmsk12.org
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Providers CouncilA collaborative group of regional workforce organizations convened by Charlotte Works to align efforts and share resources.charlotteworks.com/wpc
City of CharlotteProvides services, programs and resources to support residents and foster economic growth across the region.charlottenc.gov/home
Mecklenburg CountyDelivers public services and administers health, human services and economic development programs to residents.mecknc.gov
My Future NCA statewide nonprofit working to ensure more North Carolinians earn degrees, certificates or credentials to meet the demands of the future workforce.myfuturenc.org
She Built This CityNonprofit creates pathways to employment in the skilled trades for youth, women, and marginalized communities.shebuiltthiscity.org
Veterans Bridge HomeUsing tailored support services, connects veterans to resources that allow them to thrive.veteransbridgehome.org

Tools and resources

Apprenticeship NCProvides resources to help find registered apprenticeships.https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/businesses/apprenticeships/workforce-support-resources/
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Providers CouncilOperates as a central hub for employers to access the local talent pipeline at no cost.https://www.charlotteworks.com/wpc/
Charlotte Works Occupation Data ClusterOrganizes jobs by what people do rather than where they work; it groups related occupations into skill-based “clusters”.https://www.charlotteworks.com/occupation-data/
MyFutureNC DashboardTracks post-secondary attainment of North Carolinians ages 25-44, as well as performance from Pre-K to college and career.https://dashboard.myfuturenc.org/
Skilled to BuildPrepares small businesses and talent for opportunities emerging from Charlotte's transportation and mobility investments.https://www.charlottenc.gov/Growth-and-Development/Skilled-to-Build

Articles and reports

Glossary

Career pathway: A step-by-step roadmap that combines education, training, and work experience to help us advance in our career.
Economic mobility: The ability of a person to climb the income ladder and thrive over time, regardless of the social and economic conditions into which they were born.
Initiative: An organized effort to help solve a community problem, challenge, or opportunity.
Jobseekers: People who are unemployed and looking for work.
Regional competitiveness: A region's ability to create, attract, and retain businesses while keeping a high standard of living and offering good job opportunities for its residents.
Workforce: People in a community who are working or are available to work.

Take action

learnLearn Who is LeadingLearn more about key organizations leading and coordinating around workforce development in the community. fftcfwd.net/workforce-development.
learnHelp a JobseekerRefer a jobseeker to the Charlotte Works or NCWorks websites. charlotteworks.com; https://www.ncworks.gov/vosnet/
volunteerVolunteerVolunteer for a nonprofit whose work incorporates workforce development. Visit SHARE Charlotte’s website for volunteer opportunities: sharecharlotte.org
giveGive Back FinanciallyDonate to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose work incorporates workforce development. Donate directly: sharecharlotte.org Give through a fund: fftc.org
advocateSupport a Young Person’s FutureEncourage youth in your networks to pursue opportunities that will lead to employment, whether it be apprenticeships, internships or higher education.
alignAlign PrioritiesCorporations and foundations can align strategic community and philanthropic priorities around issues related to workforce development.