A sectoral employment development strategy - or a "sector strategy" to use industry shorthand - is defined as a systems approach to workforce development - typically on behalf of low-income individuals - that:

• Targets a specific industry or cluster of occupations, working to develop a deep understanding of industry dynamics and the specific competitive situation and workforce needs of the industry’s employers within the region;
  
  
• Intervenes through a credible organization, or set of organizations, crafting solutions tailored to that industry and its region;
  
  
• Supports workers in improving their range of employment-related skills, improving the quality of opportunities for work available to them;
  
  
• Creates lasting changes in the labor market system that are positive for workers and employers. The “systems” that sectoral initiatives typically seek to change or influence include those related to industry practices, education and training, public regulations and/or fiscal policies.