Orange County, like the nation, has transformed from an industrial-based economy to a high-technology, innovation-based economy. The result is an ever-increasing need to provide educational and workforce development programs that prepare and motivate students for high-skill, high-wage careers. To cultivate a workforce fit for an increasingly interdependent and competitive global economy, Orange County must promote initiatives that prepare its K-12 and higher education students for vocational training and in the S.T.E.M disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) that will lead to successful careers. OCBC believes that education and workforce investment programs represent the most important preparation we can accomplish today to safeguard the county’s economic future tomorrow.
Workforce Development Committee
The driving force to OCBC’s Workforce Development initiative is the Workforce Development Committee. This action committee advises OCBC’s Board of Directors on workforce development issues and organizes the annual Workforce Development Conference in conjunction with the Orange County Workforce Investment Board conference on workforce topics. The committee also develops legislative and regulatory policy recommendations. For more information on how to get involved in the committee, please contact Alicia Berhow, Director of Workforce Development.
Workforce Indicators Report
OCBC’s 2010-11 Orange County Workforce Indicators Report — a product of the research partnership between the Orange County Business Council, County of Orange, and Orange County Workforce Investment Board (OCWIB) — examines the growth of industry and employment, salary and wage trends, demographic changes and the educational attainment of Orange County students.
Latino Educational Attainment Initiative (LEA)
OCBC’s LEA program was developed to help fill the gaps left in education by assisting Latino parents on how to advocate for their children and to spark the importance of higher learning in Latino neighborhoods. The Latino Educational Attainment initiative is working to unify the community, students and parents to produce a highly skilled workforce for the future, lower the achievement gap and create neighborhood-based groups that will provide navigational skills to parents in all of the areas around the 100 low-performing schools in the county. Click here for more information on the 2010 LEA Reception.
Community College Working Group
OCBC’s Community College Working Group (CCWG
) is a regional coalition of business, industry, and education representatives serving the Orange County community college districts, Regional Occupation Programs (ROP), non-profits, Workforce Investment Boards (WIB), University, and K-12 institutions. CCWG proactively works with CTE (Career Technical Education) to align education programs that are inclusive and collaborative to meet the workforce needs of business and industry.