Workforce Development
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.
What would you like to learn?
Thank you to Charlotte Works for providing guidance on core content as Lead Agency for this folio.
What is workforce development?
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.
Key Facts
Scroll down for key facts on workforce development
1.6M
labor force workers in the Charlotte metro area
3.4
percent unemployment rate in the Charlotte region
$32.55
average hourly wage for workers in the Charlotte region
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 professional
What is happening now?
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.
Donate or volunteer now
To donate and volunteer with nonprofits working in Workforce Development, visit SHARE Charlotte’s directory for Workforce Development, Employment, Professional Development, and Life Skills.
Take Action
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Learn Who is Leading
Give Back Financially
Volunteer
Help a Jobseeker
Support a Young Person’s Future
Align Priorities
Starting points
These six organizations are good starting points for someone new to this topic to learn more.
Charlotte is home to a growing network of people and organizations who believe in building a stronger, more connected community for all.
Explore more resources below.
Explore More
Connects employers and individuals through paid work-based learning opportunities.
Provides career opportunities to high school students in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties
Nonprofit provides vocational training opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Nonprofit helps people with criminal records transition back into their communities
Fuels Charlotte’s workforce by offering accessible, industry-aligned training and apprenticeships.
A coalition of CEOs focused on driving inclusive economic growth and improving quality.
Supports business growth and regional economic development through advocacy, recruitment and partnerships.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) is the public school district serving the county,
A collaborative group of regional workforce organizations convened by Charlotte Works to align efforts.
Provides services, pWorkforce development refers to how our community builds and provides the skills,
Empowers justice impacted individuals who have often been excluded from opportunities, to fully realize their entrepreneurial potential.
Empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Transforms the community’s generous donations into opportunities for people to learn new skills, find employment, build careers, and provide for themselves and their families.
Transform talented students into successful professionals through its career-focused programs, deep Charlotte connections and supportive HBCU environment.
Aims to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy.
Delivers public services and administers health, human services and economic development programs to residents.
A statewide nonprofit working to ensure more North Carolinians earn degrees, certificates or credentials to meet.
Creates joyful and engaging experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) for girls* to inspire confidence and belonging in STEM.
Nonprofit creates pathways to employment in the skilled trades for youth, women, and marginalized communities.
Charlotte’s only R1 university; drives innovation, prepares top talent and turns bold ideas into real-world impact.
A multi-service, non-profit agency with a mission to empower the community to reach financial stability and social justice.
Using tailored support services, connects veterans to resources that allow them to thrive.
Offers job training in Charlotte, empowering young adults with skills and experience to step confidently into their careers.
Tools and Resources
Lingo to Know
Every topic has its own vocabulary. Learn a few key words here so you can explore with confidence.
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.
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Special thanks to cover artist, Barbara Ellis!
Connecting the Dots
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