Workforce development is an American economic development approach that attempts to enhance a region’s economic stability and prosperity by focusing on people rather than businesses. It is essentially a human resources strategy. Workforce development has evolved from a problem-focused approach, addressing issues such as low-skilled workers or the need for more employees in a particular industry, to a holistic approach considering participants’ many barriers and the overall needs of the region. Today workforce development often is seen as a solution to issues of social equity. One example is New York’s Workforce Development Institute (WDI) which sponsors programs for disadvantaged workers and funds the NYS Apollo Alliance to bring social activists, businesses, organized labor, and educators together to address energy and environmental justice concerns.
