Prince William County (VA) Dept. of Economic Development and Tourism – Workforce Development Study
Challenge
The Northern Virginia portion of the Washington, DC, metropolitan area boasts one of the nation’s most highly educated talent pools, giving communities like Prince William County (PWC) an important edge in site selection. Yet, PWC is also faced with challenges including the wide-ranging workforce needs of its employer base and a fiercely competitive labor market. National trends like the widening middle-skills gap, limited access to quality childcare, and a lack of affordable housing further restrict the region’s ability to import and retain a diverse talent base. Changes to federal policy affecting the delivery of workforce development, coupled with major federal workforce reductions, also create both uncertainty and opportunity.
Response
In 2025, the County engaged TIP Strategies to prepare a workforce development study as part of the launch of a new workforce program housed within the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (PWCDEDT). Grounded in an extensive quantitative analysis of economic and workforce data, qualitative input gathered through targeted stakeholder interviews, and a review of national best practices, the study aimed to delineate core functions for the new workforce program, identify ecosystem-level growth strategies, and create an inventory of the local network of potential partners and collaborators. Two major sets of recommendations resulted from the work, distinguished by levels of resourcing and responsibility. The first outlined five functions that represent PWCDEDT’s core workforce responsibilities and the primary focus of its initial work plan: (1) providing workforce data expertise; (2) marketing resources to employers; (3) convening workforce stakeholders; (4) increasing career awareness; and (5) promoting workforce assets. The second set of recommendations set out bold strategies for maximizing PWCDEDT’s impact once the core functions were fully implemented. These ecosystem-level opportunities are designed to improve the following elements through additional resourcing and collaborative partner relationships: wraparound services and employer human resources efforts, upskilling and reskilling, industry sector partnerships, career development and navigation services, and talent attraction and retention.