Workforce planning is the process of linking workforce strategies to desired business outcomes.

Workforce planning involves identifying key workforce:

1. Issues that impact overall business success.
2. Goals that must be reached to support overall business success.
3. Objectives that indicate progress toward attaining the goals.
4. Strategies and action plans for achieving the objectives.

Washington state's workforce planning guide

• Workforce planning guide
  • Step 1: Identify workforce issues
  • Step 2: Identify workforce goals
  • Step 3: Identify workforce objectives
  • Step 4: Identify workforce strategies

Click here to view and print the Guide to Developing Strategic Workforce Plans as a PDF document.

Additional planning guidance and tools

• Competencies
• Developing staffing plans
• Essential functions guide
• Managing cultural change
• Managing staffing reductions
• Environmental scan
• Supervisors' guide to developing operational workforce plans  
• WGS position description guide