Skill Gap Analysis Identifies High Employer Demand Fields

Each year, theWorkforce Training and Education Coordinating Board conducts an analysis that results in identifying mid-level high employer demand occupation groups. The list of high demand occupations helps guide the investments of workforce development programs and services. Methodology.

Major Occupational Group

Mid-level education level

Supply

Average Annual
Demand
2015-2020

Projected
Annual
Undersupply

Installation, Maintenance & Repair

1,086

2,629

-1,543

Manufacturing, Production

836

1,452

-616

Protective Services

846

1,407

-561

Health Care Occupations in Shortage*

3,260

3,732

-472

Accounting and Bookkeeping**

829

1,059

-230

Science Technology

180

249

-69

*Includes only mid-level health occupations with projected shortages.

**Not included in the supply are partially trained business majors who dropout from baccalaureate programs and who may help to meet the demand for mid-level accountants and bookkeepers.

April 3, 2013 News Release

Statewide Skill Gap Number

This year's analysis was updated February 2013.

The average annual employer demand for all workers with mid-level education and training is expected to be 32,487 between 2015 and 2020.

In 2012, 29,898 Washington residents completed their mid-level training and education. If that completion number remains the same going into the future, the projected mid-level skill gap is 2,589 (9 percent)). The 2012 supply level, however, was inflated due to the recession increasing enrollments. If the completion reverts back to 2009 levels, 27,749, then the projected mid-level skill gap is 4,738 (17 percent).

CareerBridge.Wa.Gov provides detailed information on roughly 6,000 education and training programs in Washington searchable by occupation and key words. The website also provides labor demand information for all occupations and performance results of programs that have been operating for two or more years.