Los Angeles Workforce Development Board

Los Angeles Workforce Development Board
Name	Los Angeles Workforce Development Board
Formation	2000s
Type	Public workforce board
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Region served	Los Angeles County
Leader title	Executive Director
Parent organization	Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services

Los Angeles Workforce Development Board is a regional workforce policy and program oversight body that coordinates employment, training, and workforce initiatives across Los Angeles County. It interfaces with federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, state agencies such as the California Employment Development Department, and local entities including the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, City of Los Angeles departments, and nonprofit providers like United Way of Greater Los Angeles. The board convenes stakeholders from business, labor, education, and community organizations such as Los Angeles Unified School District, University of Southern California, and California State University, Los Angeles to align training pipelines with industry demand.

Overview

The board serves as the policy-setting body for regional workforce development, coordinating with federal programs administered by the United States Department of Labor, state initiatives from the California Workforce Development Board, and local employment centers such as America's Job Center of California. It brings together representatives from major employers like Walt Disney Company, Kaiser Permanente, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX alongside labor organizations including the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, community colleges such as Los Angeles Community College District, and nonprofit service providers like Goodwill Industries International. The board aims to connect jobseekers to occupations in sectors represented by Los Angeles International Airport, Port of Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

History and Development

The board evolved amid federal workforce reforms following the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and later the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act in 2014, adapting to shifts in industries such as entertainment, aerospace, healthcare, and technology. Early collaborations involved institutions like the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office and philanthropic partners such as the Annenberg Foundation and W. M. Keck Foundation. In response to economic shocks from events including the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic, the board worked with agencies like the Economic Development Administration and research partners including the RAND Corporation to redesign training, rapid reemployment, and incumbent worker strategies.

Organization and Governance

Governance includes appointees from business leaders, labor representatives, education executives, and elected officials, with oversight connections to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and coordination with the City Council of Los Angeles. Executive staff collaborate with county departments such as the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services and the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, while administrative functions engage with legal advisers, auditors like California State Auditor, and planning partners such as the LAEDC (Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation). Committees focus on sectors and special initiatives, often involving stakeholders from California Employment Development Department, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and regional planning bodies.

Programs and Services

Programs include job readiness and career navigation offered at America's Job Center of California sites, sector-based training aligned with employers like Amazon and Kaiser Permanente, apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship pathways in partnership with labor unions and institutions such as the Los Angeles County Building and Construction Trades Council, youth employment programs linking to Mayor of Los Angeles initiatives, and services for adults and dislocated workers linked to benefits systems administered by Social Security Administration and state agencies. Specialized efforts have targeted sectors including film and television, biotechnology, clean energy, and logistics and supply chain serving the Port of Long Beach and Port of Los Angeles. Training providers include community-based organizations like Compass Working Capital, academic partners such as California State University, Northridge, and labor-management joint training centers.

Funding and Budget

Funding streams combine federal workforce grants from the U.S. Department of Labor, state allocations through the California Workforce Development Board, local government contributions from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and city budgets, and philanthropic grants from foundations such as the James Irvine Foundation and Weingart Foundation. Additional resources derive from employer investments, fee-for-service contracts with entities like Los Angeles County Office of Education, and special discretionary grants for pandemic response administered with agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Budget oversight is subject to audit by state auditors and county controllers including the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller.

Partnerships and Industry Engagement

The board maintains employer engagement with major industry clusters including entertainment, healthcare, aerospace, information technology, logistics, and green energy sectors, collaborating with employers such as Paramount Pictures, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Boeing, and Snap Inc.. Strategic partnerships involve educational institutions like Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, workforce intermediaries such as Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles County, labor unions including Service Employees International Union, economic development entities like the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, and philanthropic partners including The California Endowment. The board also coordinates with regional transit agencies including the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to address commuting barriers and with housing stakeholders such as Los Angeles Housing Department on supportive services.

Performance and Outcomes

Performance metrics include job placement rates, wage gains, credential attainment, and employer satisfaction as reported to the California Employment Development Department and the U.S. Department of Labor. Evaluations often involve academic and policy researchers from institutions such as UCLA, USC Price School of Public Policy, and think tanks like the Brookings Institution to assess impacts on sectors including film and television production, healthcare, and logistics. In response to findings, the board has adjusted investments toward high-growth occupations tied to regional assets such as Los Angeles International Airport, the Port of Los Angeles, and the regional innovation ecosystem including Silicon Beach startups and life sciences clusters around Westside, Los Angeles.

Category:Workforce development