715.1 At the heart of Washington, DC's economic development strategy is a goal to create good-quality jobs with livable wages and good benefits that are filled by residents. Good-quality jobs should offer stable employment with opportunities to advance. By improving the District's educational system and job readiness programs, more residents will participate in the workforce and unemployment will decrease. By taking these steps, the District can build a more equitable economy.

715.2 According to employment projections prepared by the DOES, 61 percent of the jobs to be created by 2026 will require a bachelor's degree or higher. District students need to be equipped with the education needed for these jobs so they can fully participate and benefit from economic growth.

715.3 The need to improve occupational skills, job training, and job placement is clear. In 2017, the region's 3.8 percent unemployment rate was lower than other comparable regions but its job growth rate of 1.4 percent was one of the slowest among large metropolitan regions.

715.4 The District itself lags in key employment indicators. Its unemployment rate has been several percentage points above the region's, and often it is more than 50 percent higher. In addition, its labor force participation rates for residents who have not graduated from college are 30 to 40 percent lower than for college graduates. Labor force participation is important because the unemployment rate is drawn from residents who are in the labor force. Together, these figures show that in 2015, 55 percent of adult residents whose highest level of educational attainment was a high school diploma were not employed, while only 18 percent of college graduates were not employed. These indicators show that the District's residents have significant differences in their employment prospects.

715.5 To address these issues, comprehensive action is needed on multiple fronts to increase employment, particularly among residents with lower levels of educational attainment who are significantly more likely to be from historically underserved communities. Continued efforts are needed to improve education, job training, and job readiness so that residents are equipped with the education and skills necessary to enter and remain in the workforce in jobs and careers that provide sufficient wages. Job readiness requires more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic skills; it also requires essential life skills such as problem-solving, interacting with others, behaving responsibly, and organizing time effectively.

715.6 There is also a need to recognize that many of the job opportunities potentially available to District residents are located outside Washington, DC. In fact, 82 percent of the new jobs that are likely to be created in metropolitan Washington,

DC between 2015 and 2035 are forecast to be in the suburbs. Many of these jobs will be service, repair, sales, and clerical positions suitable for entry-level employees or employees without advanced degrees. Thus, an important part of improving access to employment is improving access to the region’s job centers.

715.7

Equitable development can be built with greater access to career pathways. This access can be achieved through skill development and education programs that are tailored to the needs of growth industries with career pathways. These pathways link advancement to experience and skill development, enabling employees to earn increased levels of compensation as they progress. Some career pathways require higher levels of educational attainment to access, while others feature opportunities for on-the-job training or progressive certifications. Over time, education programs, workforce development programs, and investments in equitable development are expected to increase labor force participation and career opportunities for residents. The data, programs, policies, and actions described here must be developed in the context of addressing the significant challenges facing the District’s low-income residents and communities of color regarding education and employment outcomes. The District can accomplish this by using a racial equity lens to guide investments, set and measure racially equitable outcomes, and employ innovative and proven best practices.

SOURCE: District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984, effective April 10, 1984 (D.C. Law 5-76; 31 DCR 1049 (March 9, 1984)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Element Amendment Act of 1984, effective March 16, 1985 (D.C. Law 5-187; 32 DCR 873 (February 15, 1985)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-129; 37 DCR 55 (January 5, 1990)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1989 NCPC-Recommended Amendments, and Closing of Public Alleys in Square 669, S.O. 88-452, Act of 1990, effective May 23, 1990 (D.C. Law 8-132; 37 DCR 2213 (April 6, 1990)); as amended by District Government Land Use Temporary Amendment Act of 1994, effective October 1, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-190; 41 DCR 5360 (August 12, 1994)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendments Act of 1994, effective October 6, 1994 (D.C. Law 10-193; 41 DCR 5536 (August 19, 1994)); as amended by District of Columbia Comprehensive Plan Act of 1984 Land Use Amendment Act of 1994, effective March 21, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-235; 42 DCR 30 (January 6, 1995)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 18, 1996 (D.C. Law 11-110; 43 DCR 530 (February 9, 1996)); as amended by Second Technical Amendments Act of 1996 effective April 9, 1997 (D.C. Law 11-255; 44 DCR 1271 (March 7, 1997)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 1998, effective April 27, 1999 (D.C. Law 12-275; 46 DCR 1441 (February 19, 1999)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 1999, effective April 12, 2000 (D.C. Law 13-91; 47 DCR 520 (January 28, 2000)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-300; 54 DCR 924 (February 2, 2007)); as amended by Technical Amendments Act of 2008, effective March 25, 2009 (D.C. Law 17-353; 56 DCR 1117 (February 6, 2009)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2010, effective April 8, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-361; 58 DCR 908 (February 4, 2011)); as amended by Comprehensive Plan Amendment Act of 2021, effective August 21, 2021 (D.C. Law 24-20; 68 DCR 006918 (July 16, 2021)).