Editor’s note: Scott Shafer, founder/publisher of South King Media, serves on the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
The Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce brought educators, economists, employers and public officials to Kent State on April 30 to explore how artificial intelligence, economic uncertainty and workforce shortages are reshaping education and employment across South King County.
The 2026 Education and Workforce Summit, held at accesso ShoWare Center, focused on workforce readiness, apprenticeships, digital access, childcare barriers, and changing career paths for students and adult workers across the region.
“By learning from these trends, we can support the next generation, strengthen our workforce, improve our communities, and drive economic impact,” said Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Samantha Lee in her opening remarks. “Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to grow and succeed on their own terms.”
Le said 1,500 students from 15 school districts are scheduled to participate in a career showcase later in the day that will feature more than 100 career pathways and industry exhibitors.
Economist Aaron Terrazas, founder of At Economics and visiting lecturer at the University of Washington’s School of Information, said the Puget Sound economy is experiencing a period of unusual stagnation and uncertainty.
“Regional payroll jobs have been virtually flat since 2022,” Terrazas said. “This is a historical anomaly, other than recessions.”
Terrazas said health care has accounted for almost all of the country’s job growth over the past year and a half, while employment in the professional and information sectors has declined significantly. He said King County’s unemployment rate reached 5.7% in January, compared to the national unemployment rate of 4.3%.
“There’s a lot of smoke, but no conclusive evidence,” Terrazas said when discussing whether artificial intelligence is driving changes in the labor market. “The reality is that all of these reasons are tied together.”
Despite the uncertainty, small businesses are adapting faster than larger employers, Terrazas said.
“Small businesses are having to pivot,” he says. “They pivoted quickly and are now ready for 2026.”
Kent Mayor Dana Ralph said local governments, schools and employers need to work together to help students build careers closer to home.
“What we can control at the local level is making sure that employers have the skilled workforce and skilled employees that they need, and making sure that students are trained to be in that skilled workforce,” Ralph said.
Ralph highlighted Kent’s CEO Roundtable initiative, which brings together manufacturers, educators and business leaders to discuss workforce needs. He also mentioned the $2.65 million federal investment secured through Sen. Patty Murray for education and workforce programs in South King County.
Jesse Johnson, community engagement director for the Washington State Department of Finance and former state legislator, focused much of his presentation on apprenticeships and skilled trades.
Johnson said the Puget Sound region is expected to see more than 500,000 construction and skilled trades jobs by 2030 due to workforce shortages related to retirement and immigration.
“The trade is not just a backup plan, it’s the primary plan,” Johnson reiterated throughout his remarks.
Johnson said there are currently more than 200 registered apprenticeship programs and 60 pre-apprenticeship programs in Washington state, but there are only seven high school pre-apprenticeship programs statewide, including programs in Federal Way and Highline.
He said the average age of apprentices in Washington has risen to 32 and argued that students need early exposure to career paths.
“We want to reverse this issue because many young people feel like they don’t know what they’re going to do by the time they’re 18 to 22 if they don’t go to university,” Johnson said.
Johnson also pointed to barriers faced by apprentices, including transportation, childcare, workplace harassment and the region’s high cost of living.
“We have to get through those three years, and we have to provide a sustainable way for young people to get through it,” he said.
Concerns around AI, digital literacy, and access to workforce training were repeatedly raised in panel discussions throughout the summit.
Tukwila School District Superintendent Dr. Consy Pedrosa said educators are working to expand career and technical education, dual credit opportunities and practicum while helping teachers adapt to rapidly changing technology.
“We may not be as agile as some of the innovations that are happening at the business level,” Pedrosa said.
Dr. Anne Oliva of the Washington Council on Student Achievement said that while the state has become a national leader in supporting financial aid for apprentices and adult learners, the higher education system still struggles to recognize work-based experience and prior learning.
“We’re basically saying you still need to take English 101,” Oliva said, explaining how some institutions don’t value the decades of experience of their employees.
Several speakers emphasized the growing importance of adult education and retraining programs as workers adapt to economic changes and new technologies.
Andrew Benitez, executive director of teaching and learning at Highline Public Schools, said many students consider multiple career options before pursuing a specific path.
“They’re still adolescents and figuring it out, and that’s OK,” Benitez said.
Sea-Tac Deputy Mayor Senayet Neguse said workforce challenges in the airport industry are closely tied to childcare access and economic opportunity.
“Affordable, accessible, quality child care is critical to our economy and is part of our economic infrastructure,” Neguse said.
The summit also highlighted partnerships between schools, employers and nonprofits across South King County, including the Tukwila Promise, apprenticeship expansion efforts, and workforce development programs in partnership with Highline College, Green River College, and the Seattle-King County Workforce Development Council.
Student participants also spoke about the importance of mentorship and access to career exploration opportunities. Highline High School senior Alex Nunez said programs like the Workforce Discovery Lab have helped him gain a deeper understanding of available resources and career paths.
“I feel like I have a great support system with everyone around me,” Nunez said. “I know there are people I can reach out to.”
video
Below is an edited video of the event shot by Scott Schaefer (1 hour 39 minutes running time).
