KEDA Initiatives Aim to Attract and Retain Skilled Workforce

Kitsap is home to a richly diverse pool of talented residents from former Navy personnel to graduates of colleges and universities, tech centers, and military training.

Kitsap County is a fantastic place to live, and KEDA is working on both attracting a talented workforce and keeping them in Kitsap County. That’s why the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) supports a variety of Workforce Initiatives to enhance retention.

“When you think of a labor market, you can see that the demand side will continue to change depending on the needs of employers, whether in the private or public sectors. In our current economy, most workers, whether entry-level or more experienced, will likely need to have additional education or training to remain most productive in their jobs,” said KEDA Economic Development Principal Elizabeth Court.

Targeted Solutions

As is the case in many areas of the country, Kitsap is experiencing a shortage of trained, certified, and licensed healthcare professionals.

In a recent op-ed in the Kitsap Sun, KEDA Executive Director Joe Morrison noted that Registered Nurses continue to dominate job postings, with 333 this past October and 248 in November, about double the number of the next most sought-after position.

“Local healthcare providers and institutions are taking notice of these challenges and gaps. They’re working on them: Making investments, innovating, doing what they can to increase capacity and improve outcomes,” he said in the article.

One way to recruit and retain healthcare staff is to have state-of-the-art facilities and other supportive infrastructure. Currently, these investments include: 

• A successful expansion project at St. Michael Medical Center
• The addition of three freestanding emergency rooms: Two from Virginia Mason Franciscan Health - one in Bremerton and one in Port Orchard - and a third ER from Multicare located in East Bremerton
• The development of employee housing for recruitment and retention purposes by Peninsula Community Health Services (PCHS)

Healthcare: A Multiyear Priority 

As part of its five-year One Kitsap strategic plan, KEDA is advancing a multiyear priority to support healthcare workforce development and infrastructure. This includes active participation in the Healthcare Working Group, where KEDA serves as a key partner and advocate.

“There are a number of important healthcare initiatives currently underway in the County, including Olympic College’s Poulsbo Healthcare Campus and a $10.5 million renovation of the existing building,” Court noted.

Funded by Kitsap County via the American Rescue Plan Act, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, and the Olympic College Foundation, the project will expand OC Poulsbo’s capacity to offer phlebotomy, radiology technology, sonography, and surgical technology training.

KEDA is also collaborating with partners to enhance its website in support of regional talent recruitment efforts led by Kitsap Public Health.                                  

An Ocean of Potential

KEDA is also committed to collaborating with stakeholders to create and grow workforce programs to retain more of our transitioning Navy personnel.

By matching them with local employers right here in Kitsap, there is an opportunity to incentivize a fair share of the hundreds of highly skilled men and women who are discharged each year to stay here and put down roots.

“Anecdotally, individuals separating from service after, say, four years, who choose not to stay in Kitsap are likely making this choice based on the location of extended family. Many of them are from Florida, California, Texas, or North Carolina, where most of the Navy recruits come from. When you think about it, individual separatees tend to be younger. They likely have not purchased a home and may not have family nearby,” said Court. “Retirees tend to be more likely to stay in Kitsap as they may own a home, their spouse may have a career in Kitsap, and if they have children, they may likely be enrolled in local schools.”

Ongoing Investment

In July, KEDA participated in a Workforce Roundtable that brought together organizations and business leadership and staff representing Kitsap’s top industries.

“KEDA really works to break down silos related to the workforce. The presenters included respected labor exchange representatives, higher education training providers, private sector workforce leaders, as well as United States Navy contractors. The Roundtable also provided a valuable presentation on Artificial Intelligence and how that may impact the Kitsap workforce,” said Court.

For more information about the region’s robust workforce initiatives, click here!