Workforce Development in Action: Empowering People, Strengthening Communities
By Patty McDonald, PHR, CWDP, Program Manager, Business and Career Services
September is Workforce Development Month—a time to recognize the vital role Frederick County Workforce Services plays in strengthening our community.
Many visitors come to our center with the goal of finding a job—and we can certainly help with that! But that’s only a small part of what we do. Workforce development is about more than just jobs; it’s about opening doors to opportunity, creating pathways for growth, and building stronger futures. We help people build meaningful careers, support employers in finding skilled talent, and contribute to the overall economic health of our county.
Even though Frederick County is experiencing low unemployment, there are still 84,176 residents who are not in the workforce but could be. The reasons for this are many, and for some, the barriers can feel insurmountable. For those who simply need help polishing a résumé, building connections, or preparing for an interview, the path to a new job—and new opportunities—can be clear and direct. For others facing greater challenges, our services provide the right mix of resources and support to help close the gap. Whether it’s gaining new skills, learning English, or overcoming transportation hurdles, we work to turn closed doors into open opportunities.
We partner directly with employers to understand their workforce needs, from filling immediate openings to planning for long-term growth. By providing training programs, apprenticeship opportunities, and customized hiring support, we help industries build pipelines of qualified workers. At the same time, we connect local residents with the skills, certifications, and career pathways that align with these industry needs. Whether in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, IT, construction, or other high-demand fields, Workforce Development bridges the gap between talent and opportunity. The result is a stronger economy, thriving businesses, and a community where both workers and industries succeed together.
Workforce Development programs typically produce an ROI of more than $15 for every $1 spent. Over the past year, our investment in Frederick County has:
Contributed more than $215,000 in training support to help individuals acquire skills and credentials to access opportunities with local businesses and industries.
Provided over 300 individuals with resources to support their success in employment and training, including help with credentialing exams, transportation, and training materials.
Assisted more than 350 Frederick County businesses with recruitment and pipeline development.
But the impact goes beyond numbers. Frederick County Workforce Services changes lives. From Julian, who overcame addiction and is now thriving in a new career and recovery; to Kaly, who gained the confidence to continue her engineering career after learning English; to Katy, who launched her banking career after a college internship—there are countless stories like these.
As we celebrate Workforce Development Month this September, we invite you to follow our Faces of Workforce campaign on our social media channels to learn more about our programs, see the impact we make, and hear directly from the team at Frederick County Workforce Services about the important work we do every day.