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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.”
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.
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.
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.