On December 16, the Tacoma City Council adopted Resolution 41825, which introduces a draft Quality Jobs Framework that highlights the City of Tacoma’s commitment to serving as a convener, investor, and planner to foster an environment where businesses and workers can succeed together. Sponsored by Mayor Victoria Woodards, Deputy Mayor Kiara Daniels, At-Large Council Member Kristina Walker, and At-Large Council Member Olgy Diaz, the draft framework builds upon the City’s participation in the Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy, a partnership between the National League of Cities and the U.S. Department of Labor designed to connect workers with high-demand careers.
“As a city, we have a responsibility to ensure that every job created in Tacoma is a pathway to stability, dignity, and long-term opportunity,” said Mayor Woodards. “Our draft Quality Jobs Framework sets a clear foundation for how we define and support good, family-sustaining work in our community. This resolution directs the City Manager to use this framework as the basis for further evaluation and to bring forward recommendations on labor standards that will help us strengthen our workforce, support our businesses, and build a more equitable future for all who call Tacoma home.”
The draft framework identifies eight key characteristics that define a quality job, serving as shared aspirations for both workers and employers:
- Inclusive Access and Representative Workforce: Building workplaces where individuals from all backgrounds can enter and thrive
- Shared Voice and Agency: Empowering employees to influence their work and organizational direction
- Fair and Transparent Hiring: Ensuring recruitment is open, inclusive, and skills-based
- Livable Wages and Fair Compensation: Providing wages that reflect the local cost of living and offer upward mobility
- Stability, Safety, and Flexibility: Prioritizing health, safety, and stable scheduling.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Access to family-supporting benefits like healthcare and paid leave.
- Respectful Workplace Culture: Cultivating environments rooted in mutual respect and fairness.
- Skill Building and Career Growth: Investing in training and mentorship that aligns with employee goals.
The draft framework is designed as a starting point for further research and community engagement rather than a prescriptive mandate. It does not immediately establish new labor standards or policy directives. Instead, it serves as a guide for the City Manager and staff to work with partners to bring forward solutions that balance aspirational goals with economic feasibility. City staff will analyze the draft framework and engagement findings, with a goal of presenting recommendations on how to implement these ideas to the City Council by the end of 2027.
Community members with questions about the Quality Jobs Framework can contact Bucoda Warren, Chief Policy Analyst to the Mayor, at bwarren@tacoma.gov or (253) 318-0594.