From Crisis to Opportunity: Building Hawaiʻi’s Workforce Resilience
January 2025
UpDATED March 2025
Created by: Matt Stevens, Executive Director - Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative
This report from the Hawaiʻi Workforce Funders Collaborative is intended as a tool to provide data and a framework to facilitate conversations grounded in what’s best for Hawaiʻi’s workers, learners, employers, communities, and economy. This north star gives us the clarity and focus to continue doing good work and finding creative solutions in uncertain times.
Summary
From Crisis to Opportunity: Building Hawaiʻi’s Workforce Resilience analyzes Hawaiʻi's workforce crisis, highlighting a significant shortfall of living-wage jobs for young people entering the workforce. It examines interconnected challenges, including job quality, geographic disparities, and training misalignment, and presents case studies illustrating these issues' impact on individuals. The report proposes recommendations to improve work-based learning, expand sector partnerships, enhance reskilling initiatives, and strengthen career counseling, advocating for a unified statewide approach to achieve 100% access to family-sustaining careers by 2035. Finally, the report outlines actionable steps for various stakeholders to contribute to this vision.
KEY INSIGHTS
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The report outlines a vision to ensure that by 2035, 100% of working-age residents in Hawaiʻi have access to family-sustaining, future-ready careers
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Hawai'i faces a complex, interconnected workforce crisis including: a shortage of living-wage jobs; many jobs that don't meet standards for "good jobs"; geographic disparities; training programs not aligned with future needs; systemic stress; and critical sector shortages.
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Approximately 167,787 young residents will enter the workforce over the next decade, but projections show only 120,290 job openings that pay a living wage for a single adult. This means that nearly 30% of new workforce entrants may not find viable opportunities in Hawai'i.
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A "good job" is defined by more than just wages. It encompasses factors such as the ability to fulfill family obligations, community impact, environmental sustainability, and support for physical and mental health.
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The report recommends:
Expanding work-based learning opportunities in all schools and communities
Develop lifelong learning and reskilling for emerging sectors
Investing in sector-based strategies, particularly in areas like childcare, sustainable agriculture, and mental health services
Strengthening career counseling and navigational support for students and job seekers
Supporting unified workforce strategies through the State Unified Plan
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The State Unified Plan is a collaborative effort among state agencies to align workforce development strategies and resources under a unified framework. It emphasizes a clear "north star goal" and a coordinated approach to workforce development.
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The report provides actionable steps for various stakeholders, including employers, educators, government agencies, nonprofits, and more. The report is intended to act as a catalyst for connections, and the HWFC welcomes feedback and actions that stakeholders are taking to address workforce challenges.
Stakeholder-Specific Resources
While this is not a comprehensive list, we hope these resources serve as a valuable quick-reference guide for job seekers and professional development opportunities as we navigate ongoing challenges and uncertainties.
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HWFC champions workforce pathways that lead to family-sustaining wages.
Operation HIRE Hawaiʻi – State program connecting displaced workers to government jobs with fast-track hiring into open state government roles.
Workforce Development Division American Job Centers – Career counseling, job training, and employment services across Hawaiʻi.
HI-CAN – Hawai’i Career Acceleration Navigator delivers data-driven career recommendations for you to explore new career paths that may leverage your skills in a new way, boost your income, or for which there are many jobs available in Hawai’i. When you find a new career that interests you, you can explore available jobs and training programs within that career.
Hawaiʻi is Hiring - Top 10 Companies Hiring Now, Virtual Career Explorer, Career Navigation Tools.
Conservation Compass - One-stop for jobs and careers in conservation, career navigation tools and guidance, and navigator spotlights featuring local workers.
Office of Economic Revitalization - City & County of Honolulu - includes Oahu Business Connector, resources for entrepreneurs, job-seekers, farmers and sustainable agriculture.
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Education is the foundation of a strong workforce. Resources for navigating workforce training or upskilling.
UHCC Labor Market Data Explorer – Search job postings, salaries, and number of employers by sector.
Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnerships for Education – Data-driven strategies for improving college and career readiness. -
Businesses need skilled, locally trained workers. Resources for workforce solutions and adapting to policy changes.
Hawaiʻi Employers Council – HR support, labor law updates, and best practices for workforce planning.
Good Jobs Hawaiʻi – Employer partnerships for training and hiring in high-demand sectors. -
Strategic workforce investments create lasting impact. Funders can help sustain crucial workforce programs during uncertainty.
Funder Hui - Federal Funding Cut Weekly Calls
Collective Impact Forum - Responding to Threats and Challenges Planning Tool
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Policy decisions shape the future of workforce development. Here are key resources for informed decision-making.
Hawaiʻi Data Collaborative – Workforce and economic data to guide policy.
Building Data Capacities for the Uncertainties Ahead
Resources for Tracking and Accessing Purged Federal Data
Holomua Collective - Affordability Dashboard, Cross-Sector Convenings for policy priorities.
Hawaiʻi Appleseed - Center for Law & Economic Justice, Social-Economic Issues facing Hawaiʻiʻs Families & Resources/Programs.
Hawaiʻi Childrenʻs Action Network (HCAN) - Families Coalition, Legislation Advocacy for Children, Paid Family Leave movement.
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Aloha United Way (AUW) - advances the health, education, and financial stability of every person in our community by bringing together resources, organizations, and people.
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) - enhance the cultural, economic, political, and community development of Native Hawaiians.
Liliuokalani Trust (LT) - LT supports kamaliʻi ages 0-26 and their ʻohana with a complete array of healing programs and services. Grounded in Hawaiian culture and driven by both ʻike and manaʻo, our team strives to deliver transformational experiences for youth—resulting in a thriving lāhui.
Waianae Economic Development Council - opportunities for Wai‘anae Coast residents by developing the community's rich natural, cultural, and human resources.
Vibrant Hawai’i - growing community that commits to individual and collective ʻauamo kuleana to increase equitable opportunities to build wealth: a reservoir of human, social, cultural, and financial abundance that we contribute to and draw upon.
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Innovate-Us - Free upskilling courses, workshops and other resources including at-your-own pace trainings, certifications, etc.
