What does a workforce development specialist do?

A workforce development specialist is responsible for designing and conducting training and development programs to significantly improve organizational and individual performance. You will perform a few duties that include evaluating training delivery modes, such as virtual or in-person to optimize training effectiveness and costs, developing, obtaining, or organizing training guides and procedure manuals, and coordinating the placement of trainees. As a workforce development specialist, you also have to choose and assign training instructors and negotiating contracts with clients.
Workforce development specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real workforce development specialist resumes:
- Lead advocacy efforts to increase employment opportunities for veterans by contacting hiring executives and encourage the hiring of disable veterans.
- Work cooperatively with community organizations to provide support and resources to TANF clients.
- Create PowerPoint presentations for use with public speaking events.
- Conduct employment verification (I9) and drug tests.
- Market OJT services to public and private sector employers; prepare contract agreements between employers and employees.
- Establish and maintain rapport with both prime contractors and their employees that are participating in the OJT program as trainees.
- Establish, maintain, or facilitate regular contact with employers to develop employment and training opportunities for the benefit of veterans.
- Prepare spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations to lead strategic planning efforts.
- Develop and promote employment and on-the-job-training opportunities for TANF participants.
- Interview incoming patients entering information require for admission into computer database.
- Determine eligibility for WIA training and enter cases into statewide computer program.
- Conduct interest & aptitude assessments to determine vocational suitability for WIA customers.
- Facilitate physician to physician communication for admission of patients from outside the facility.
- Collect applicant's identification and educational documents and complete I9 verification for authorization.
- Lead advocacy efforts to increase employment opportunities for veterans by contacting hiring executives and encourage the hiring of disable veterans.
Workforce development specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 9% of Workforce Development Specialists are proficient in Social Services, Training Programs, and HR. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Instructional skills, and Analytical skills.
We break down the percentage of Workforce Development Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Social Services, 9%
Work closely with case managers from Court Social Services, DYRS, and probation officers from CSOSA.
- Training Programs, 8%
Developed and implemented employment development plans, utilizing assessment s, labor market information, and referrals to education/training programs.
- HR, 7%
Designed and developed company-wide new-hire orientation program, including facilitating train-the- trainer for 6 HR business partners in remote sites.
- Community Resources, 6%
Implemented various ideas using labor market information to lead clients toward employment objective utilizing community resources when necessary.
- Career Development, 6%
Monitor and manage education, training, and career development related data in appropriate data management systems.
- Supportive Services, 6%
Determined eligibility for needs base payment and supportive services as appropriate.
Common skills that a workforce development specialist uses to do their job include "social services," "training programs," and "hr." You can find details on the most important workforce development specialist responsibilities below.
Creativity. The most essential soft skill for a workforce development specialist to carry out their responsibilities is creativity. This skill is important for the role because "specialists should be resourceful when developing training materials." Additionally, a workforce development specialist resume shows how their duties depend on creativity: "instruct classes of students on career exploration inventory. "
Instructional skills. Another essential skill to perform workforce development specialist duties is instructional skills. Workforce development specialists responsibilities require that "training and development specialists deliver employee training programs." Workforce development specialists also use instructional skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "authored human resource training curriculum and instructional resources. "
Analytical skills. This is an important skill for workforce development specialists to perform their duties. For an example of how workforce development specialist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "training and development specialists must evaluate training programs, methods, and materials and choose those that best fit each situation." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a workforce development specialist: "develop professional relationships with local businesses complete data entry fol all students monitor training costs to keep within budget. ".
Communication skills. workforce development specialist responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "training and development specialists must convey information clearly and facilitate learning to diverse audiences." This resume example shows what workforce development specialists do with communication skills on a typical day: "work with local businesses to promote the removal of attitudinal, architectural, communication, and transportation barriers. "
The three companies that hire the most workforce development specialists are:
- Americorps6 workforce development specialists jobs
- Louisiana State Police
4 workforce development specialists jobs
- MGM Resorts International3 workforce development specialists jobs
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Workforce development specialist vs. Training facilitator
A training facilitator is responsible for managing the training sessions of employees in an organization, both for career advancement and process-related training. Training facilitators outline the training objectives, prepare the facility and resources, and ensure that all participants are present during the discussion. They also coordinate with the department heads for any progress updates and additional requirements for training purposes. A training facilitator must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in acting as a liaison between the management and the trainees for their inquiries, concerns, and feedback.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, workforce development specialist responsibilities require skills like "social services," "hr," "community resources," and "career development." Meanwhile a typical training facilitator has skills in areas such as "training classes," "training materials," "professional development," and "training curriculum." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Training facilitators tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $65,725. In contrast, workforce development specialists make the biggest average salary, $60,428, in the transportation industry.The education levels that training facilitators earn slightly differ from workforce development specialists. In particular, training facilitators are 5.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a workforce development specialist. Additionally, they're 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Workforce development specialist vs. Facilitator
A facilitator is responsible for assisting a group event or program, ensuring that the participants coordinate well. Facilitators also monitor that the objectives of the event are smoothly delivered and organized. An effective facilitator requires having strong communication and leadership skills to manage the participants' concerns and inquiries, including active participation in group discussions and designing engaging activities and processes. Facilitators also assist with planning and finalizing the timetable and setting the specific house rules and regulations for everyone's compliance.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, workforce development specialist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "hr," "career development," "supportive services," and "employment services." Meanwhile, a facilitator has duties that require skills in areas such as "patients," "customer service," "facilitators," and "mental health." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
On average, facilitators earn a higher salary than workforce development specialists. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, facilitators earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $45,516. Whereas workforce development specialists have higher pay in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $60,428.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Facilitators tend to reach similar levels of education than workforce development specialists. In fact, they're 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for workforce development specialists in the next 3-5 years?
Workforce development specialist vs. Training coordinator
A training coordinator is an individual who develops and conducts training programs for employees or volunteers. Training coordinators create printed and instructional materials as well as maintain an online library of training resources. Aside from conducting training, training coordinators need to assess employees' development and report their progress to the management. An organization also requires its training coordinators to obtain a bachelor's degree in Human Resource or related field and have excellent communication skills.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a workforce development specialist is likely to be skilled in "social services," "community resources," "career development," and "supportive services," while a typical training coordinator is skilled in "customer service," "training materials," "patients," and "training sessions."
Training coordinators make a very good living in the technology industry with an average annual salary of $51,627. On the other hand, workforce development specialists are paid the highest salary in the transportation industry, with average annual pay of $60,428.Most training coordinators achieve a similar degree level compared to workforce development specialists. For example, they're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Workforce development specialist vs. Training consultant
A training consultant's job is to prepare, evaluate, and execute an organization's employee education programs. Their duties and responsibilities may include developing instructional materials, identifying knowledge and skills gaps, and organizing learning activities. Other duties include selecting educational methods such as online courses and on-the-job coaching, organizing management training, and assessing the impact of this training on employee performance. The skills and qualifications for this role include a bachelor's degree in human resources management or a relevant field, previous work experience as a training consultant, and knowledge of learning management software.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between workforce development specialists and training consultants, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a workforce development specialist might have more use for skills like "social services," "community resources," "career development," and "supportive services." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of training consultants require skills like "training materials," "training sessions," "project management," and "training courses. "
The finance industry tends to pay the highest salaries for training consultants, with average annual pay of $67,693. Comparatively, the highest workforce development specialist annual salary comes from the transportation industry.The average resume of training consultants showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to workforce development specialists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 7.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 1.5%.Types of workforce development specialist
Updated January 8, 2025











