A connected network of organizations, systems, policies, technologies, and stakeholders involved in preparing, supporting, hiring, upskilling, and advancing workers throughout their careers. Workforce ecosystems typically include employers, education and training providers, workforce boards, government agencies, community organizations, labor groups, credential providers, technology platforms, and learners or workers themselves. In practice, workforce ecosystems may operate at local, regional, state, national, or industry-sector levels. Increasingly, policymakers and organizations are emphasizing the importance of building interoperable workforce ecosystems that better connect learning, work, data systems, and economic opportunity

The term reflects a shift from viewing workforce development as a "linear" pipeline toward understanding workforce preparation and mobility as an "interconnected system" shaped by collaboration, data sharing, labor market dynamics, public policy, economic conditions, and evolving skill needs. Workforce ecosystems often involve coordination across:

• education and training pathways
• workforce development systems
• employer hiring and talent strategies
• career navigation and coaching
• credentialing and skills recognition
• labor market data systems
• wraparound learner and worker supports
• digital infrastructure and workforce technologies.