Gov. Jay Inslee got a first-hand look at Washington’s robust maritime industry and workforce training efforts during a trip to the Olympic Peninsula on Thursday. Those efforts include strategic investments, as well as partnerships with local governments and businesses, to grow living wage jobs and opportunities in rural communities.
The state’s maritime industry supports more than 146,000 jobs in Washington, and continues to grow every year. But the average age of a maritime worker is 54 years old, so recruiting and training the next generation of maritime workers is a crucial aspect of the state’s Maritime BLUE strategic plan, currently under development.
“Maritime activity has long been a pillar of our state’s economy, and we are uniquely positioned to lead the country in maritime innovation,” Inslee said. “We can model new management practices and clean technologies while creating living-wage jobs for Washingtonians.”
Read the full story on the governor's Medium page.