Economic Development
Placing Angelenos in Good-Paying Jobs
For the first time ever in the history of the City, Mayor Villaraigosa has developed a City Workforce Development Strategy embraced by the Workforce Investment Board and the City Council. It is on track to realize his five-year goal of moving 100,000 Los Angeles area residents into living wage jobs by June 30, 2010.
The Mayor is committed to changing the fact that Los Angeles has a higher percentage (24%) of workers in jobs that pay poverty wages versus the national average (20%). A City living wage, by law, is $9.71 per hour with benefits and $10.96 per hour without benefits.
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The City’s Workforce Development plan supports the Mayor’s five-year goal of assisting 100,000 Los Angeles area residents attain living wage jobs. More than 36,900 placements have been made from July 1, 2005 through January 2008 and efforts are on target to reach the 100,000 goal by 2010.
Mayor Villaraigosa is especially committed to getting young people into summer jobs. Through the City’s efforts 4,000 youth were connected to summer & year round jobs in 2005; 7,100 in 2006 and 10,000 in 2007. The Villaraigosa goal is to connect 15,000 youth to jobs in 2008.
The Mayor has directed his Workforce Investment Board and Community Development Department to coordinate with other departments and help manage the City’s Workforce Development Plan.Strategy #1: Develop Sector Based Training Programs
Strategy #2: Strengthen the Region’s Workforce Development System
Strategy #3: Leverage Public Sector Hiring and Contracting
Strategy #4: Connecting Young People to Jobs
Strategy #5 - Transition Workers from Low Wage Jobs into Living Wage Jobs
Strategy #6 - Create Living Wage Jobs Through Economic Development