Commonwealth Workforce Metrics

The Commonwealth Workforce Metrics Initiative began collecting data in State Fiscal Year 2024 pursuant to state legislation that requires the Secretary of Labor to conduct annual evaluations of the performance of workforce development and training programs (§2.2-2037).

Virginia Works has adopted a “pilot, refine, and continuously learn” approach to implementing the Commonwealth Workforce Metrics. We firmly believe in leading by example—we will never ask another agency to do something we haven’t piloted ourselves. We’ve embedded multiple feedback loops into our data collection process, allowing us to learn directly from our colleagues and continuously improve. At Virginia Works, we see ourselves not just as data collectors, but as supporters and storytellers—tasked with using data to help tell the story of every workforce development program across the Commonwealth.

Virginia’s metrics framework isn’t just about compliance—it’s about creating a consistent, outcomes-driven standard across all programs. Our goal is to measure true outcomes, not just activities. For us, the ultimate outcome is job placement—specifically, whether someone lands the right job, stays in it, and grows their earnings over time.