Annual
Report

Program Year

2021-2022

The sun rises with everyday opportunity. It’s the chance for a fresh start and the promise of a new path. That’s what workforce development is. It is meaning and purpose.

At the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, workforce is our only business. We help companies find, train and retain the right employees for their workforce. In addition, our no-cost services help residents secure quality jobs to become economically self-sufficient. Through our work and that of our regional partners, we are working to strengthen a community by connecting businesses to the talent they need and talent to the jobs they seek. In Program Year 2021–2022 (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022), we served more than 800 job seekers and placed more than 200 individuals in jobs.

Messages From...

Executive Director Rebecca Evans & Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Board Chair, Stephen Yeoh

Dear Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Members and Partners,

I am thrilled eager to present our Annual Report for Fiscal and Program Year 2021-22. This year has been unlike any other, as we faced unprecedented challenges and uncertainties. However, despite these obstacles, our Board, service providers, and staff have remained steadfast in our work mission to serve job seekers and businesses in our community.

Before diving into the details of our accomplishments, I first want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you. Your hard work, dedication, and resilience have not gone unnoticed. Your unwavering commitment to our mission has enabled us to continue positively impacting the lives of those we serve, despite the many obstacles we faced. I am proud to work alongside such an incredible team.

This year, we have seen the workforce landscape shift and transform in ways we never could have predicted. However, our Board has remained agile and responsive, adapting to the changing needs of our community. We have developed innovative solutions to address the challenges facing our local workforce, and we have continued to provide high-quality services to job seekers and businesses alike.

As we look to the future, I am filled with hope and excitement. I do not doubt that our Board will continue to rise to the occasion, leveraging our collective expertise and creativity to drive progress and make a positive impact. Together, we will continue to build a more robust, more resilient workforce that benefits not only individuals and businesses but our entire community.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Rebecca Evans
Executive Director
Workforce Development Board of Ventura County

Dear Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Members and Partners,

We are pleased and grateful to present the annual report for Program Year 2021-22. As the Chair of this esteemed board, I am privileged to lead a team of dedicated professionals committed to enhancing the skills and employability of our local workforce.

Over the past year, our board has been diligent in developing and implementing strategies to address our community's challenges and opportunities. We have forged new partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and community organizations. We have launched innovative programs and initiatives to help individuals of all ages and backgrounds acquire the skills and training they need to succeed in today's economy.

As we reflect on the past year's accomplishments, I am filled with gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our board members and staff. Their tireless efforts have made a real difference in the lives of countless individuals and families throughout our community.

I invite you to join me in celebrating our successes and looking forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead. Together, we can continue to build a stronger and more vibrant workforce for Ventura County.

Sincerely,
Stephen Yeoh,
MBA, PMP
Chief of Peace of Mind, Un1teee
Chair, Workforce Development Board of Ventura County

Impact Report

4,015

visitors to our America’s Job Centers of California

3,397

services
provided

21

initiatives to serve job seekers and businesses

806

job seekers enrolled and served in our programs

206

placed in
jobs

128

credentials, certifications, and diplomas achieved


* Program Year 2021-2022
Note: Placement in employment is measured
six and twelve months after exit.

COVID-19
Crisis Point

In March 2020, Ventura County public health officials implemented shelter-in-place orders. They placed restrictions on businesses to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. As such, all WDBVC programs and services were moved to virtual.
Pandemic Initiatives
April 2020

Underserved COVID-19 Impacted Individuals (UCII) Grant

To act swiftly to help workers most impacted financially by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Employment Development Department (EDD) awarded the WDBVC $450,000 of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) 25% Dislocated Worker Funds to provide supportive services to individuals impacted by COVID-19. Nearly 950 individuals were enrolled and provided supportive services.  
June 2020

National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) COVID-19

The WDBVC was awarded $315,000 to provide employment and training services to workers unlikely to return to work in their previous occupations. Services included training, subsidized employment, and job placement into in-demand occupations, especially those with an increased need due to the impact of COVID-19. The WDBVC enrolled almost 100 individuals through this initiative.  
June 2021

Dislocated Youth Worker Innovation Challenge (DYWIC)

The WDBVC received $250,000 to increase access for youth, align WIOA programs, implement co-enrollment strategies, enhance partnerships, leverage other program funding, provide supportive services, and create onramps to high-quality jobs with sustainable wages for California’s dislocated youth worker population. The DYWIC program focused on accelerating employment and reemployment strategies for dislocated youth workers in viable industry sectors.

Prison to
Employment

Chris tells his story of how he became the first participant in the P2E Program

Advancing Workforce Equity

We are committed to developing, nurturing, and sustaining an equitable community where all individuals can thrive. We pledge to amplify the voices of under-represented or historically excluded communities by removing barriers resulting from racial and social injustice and inequities. We strive to ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion are embedded at all levels of our programs by acknowledging, analyzing, and addressing the root causes of inequities. In an equitable workforce, all jobs are good jobs. Workforce equity means eliminating racial gaps in employment and income. It means the public and private workforce racially represents the general population at all skill and pay levels across occupational groups and sectors.

14-18
(53)
19-21
(197)
22-24
(93)
25-34
(142)
35-44
(127)
45-54
(103)
55-64
(72)
65+
(19)
Female
(433)
Male
(370)
Didn't Identify
(3)
Hispanic or Latino
(549)
American Indian / Alaskan Native
(19)
Asian
.......................... ........
(24)
African American /  Black
(33)
Hawaiian Native / Other Pac. Islander
(6)
White / Caucasian
(416)
In School, High School or Less
(28)
In School,  Alternative School
(10)
In School,  Attending Post High School
(37)
Out-of-School, High School Dropout
(195)
Out-of-School, High  School Grad
(533)
Not Attending  School, Within Age of Cumpulsory School Attendance
(3)

Participants by Zip Code

Numbers do not include individuals enrolled with a non-Ventura County address.
Press
Release
Bilingual report—Ventura County’s America’s Job Centers of California Re-Opens, Gets A Remodel
by Community Contributor • November 1, 2021

VENTURA — The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDB) announced the re-opening of the America’s Job Center of California location in Oxnard and the affiliate East County office in Simi Valley.  The Oxnard office also reopened with some welcomed changes.

America’s Job Center of California is a direct link to resources that help job seekers choose and pursue careers. The centers provide free access to a host of employment-related resources to help individuals find rewarding careers.

Program Success Stories

Here are some individuals from our programs we contract with

Goodwill

Creating Solutions for Businesses

We restructured and added a Business Solutions team to our staff. We are here to serve the needs of businesses and job seekers in Ventura County. We play a critical role in ensuring talent soars and business grows.

In January 2022, we partnered with the California Employers Association to provide Ventura County businesses with a free human resources hotline. HR experts are available to answer common human resource issues such as Wage and Hour, Paid Sick Leave, and the COVID-19 pandemic directives.

81

Total Webinar Employer Registrations for 2 events

In
The
News
Workforce Development Launches Free Human Resources Hotline
by Editorial Team • January 29, 2022

VENTURA — The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County has partnered with the California Employers Association to provide Ventura County businesses with a free human resources hotline.HR experts are available to answer common questions involving human resource issues including: Wage and Hour Laws, Paid Sick Leave Laws, Hiring and Firing Best Practices, Employee Handbook Policies.

“In Ventura County, we have businesses and employers of all sizes,” says WDB Executive Director Rebecca Evans. “Many do not have full-time HR departments.  Business owners can call the hotline whenever they have an HR question. California employment laws are complex and ever-changing, especially now with all the pandemic directives. The hotline will help businesses get the accurate information they need quickly to ensure they have the latest procedures in place.”

Press
Release
Workforce Development Board of Ventura County Names New Chair, Vice-Chair
by Community Contributor • July 5, 2022

VENTURA — The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDB) elected Stephen Yeoh as chair and Sandy Smith as vice-char. Yeoh and Smith will serve one-year terms.

Stephen Yeoh, who joined the board in 2016, is the Chief Peace of Mind Officer at Un1teee, an IT service provider located in Thousand Oaks with clients in the healthcare, finance, and legal industries.  He served on the board of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and was a volunteer instructor for the Central Coast Chapter of the Project Management Institute.

Financials

WIOA Core Funds
$6,321,563.70
WIOA 15% Grants
$1,860,951.86
Non-WIOA Grants
$2,242,862.51

Looking Forward

The Ventura County economy, like every other region in the nation, has experienced economic declines due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the resultant decrease in hiring due to stay-at-home orders, social masking, and a reduction in retail and social settings. This, paired with the slowing economy, rising gas prices, and inflation, has contributed to increased unemployment and new barriers for low-income job seekers and businesses seeking employees. The COVID-19 Pandemic increased the digital divide and led to a surge in the use of digital technologies. This has exacerbated the discrepancy in digital skills and pushed us to identify new ways to serve those in need.  

Therefore, we implemented our Ventura County Works Hub, a call center that job seekers and businesses can call for immediate help. Individuals can call 805-648-WORK Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm or chat with a navigator on our website.

In Summary

We help people and support businesses, but our work is much more than that. By keeping businesses moving and people working, we are fortifying an economy that impacts the lives of our county and beyond.

Research*1 shows we cannot expect a full economic recovery in job growth for ten years or 2033. Therefore, the Workforce Development Board training programs will seek to carry out our leadership role and outlook in bringing new, well-trained, career-minded employees to support businesses in need.

*1) https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/pages/labor-shortages-forecast-to-persist-2023.aspx

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