There’s little dispute that the path to a vibrant and economically diverse Los Angeles begins with a population of well-trained workers. In Los Angeles, the challenge is that nearly 25 % of adults haven’t finished high school.
Mayor Eric Garcetti, working with Workforce partners, has set out to tackle that challenge head on. Beginning in 2014, Garcetti redesigned the city’s workforce development system, tying job readiness more closely to educational attainment and industry-specific training. Garcetti worked closely with the Workforce Development Board, which oversees workforce programs, and Jan Perry, General Manager of the Economic & Workforce Development Department, to get it just right.
The result is a network of WorkSource centers that function as a job-mentoring hub right in the neighborhood.
Today, South Los Angeles residents can go to one of six WorkSource centers spread across the region and find friendly staff ready to help them chart their individual path to success. Participants can get help finishing their high school education or taking the GED, the high school equivalency exam.
They can enroll in skills training needed to land a position in the high-demand industries of healthcare, technology, hospitality and advanced manufacturing, to name a few. Each WorkSource center focuses on two high-growth industries (see list below).
Other services include jobs counseling, help preparing a resume, interviewing skills, financial literacy classes and online access to JobsLA.org, a searchable database of close to 50,000 LA-based openings. JobsLA.org is updated daily.
To get more information, the Workforce Development Board and EWDD will be staffing information booths this week at “Taste of Soul.”
From a business standpoint, the WorkSource centers provide a pool of trained workers. WorkSource center staff also help businesses with job recruitment and career fairs, and work with individual companies to meet their workforce needs.
Don’t hold back on creating the life you want. It starts with a good education and job training.
Get started today at:
Crenshaw WorkSource Center
Industry focus: Healthcare, Hospitality
5401 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90043
TEL: (323)-596-2700 TTY: (323)-596-2800
South Los Angeles WorkSource Center
Industry focus: Construction, Advanced Manufacturing
3965 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90037
TEL: (323) 730-7900 TTY: (323) 730-7937
Southeast Los Angeles WorkSource Center
Industry focus: Healthcare, Construction
10950 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles 90059
TEL: (323) 563-4702 TTY: (323) 563-5684
Vernon Central/LATTC WorkSource Center
Industry focus: Construction, Hospitality
400 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90015
TEL: (213) 763-5951 TTY: (213) 763-5986
Watts/Los Angeles WorkSource Center
Industry focus: Construction, Healthcare
Imperial Courts
2220 E. 114th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059
TEL: (323) 249-7751 TTY: (323) 567-8977
West Adams WorkSource Center
Industry focus: Security, Healthcare
2900 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016
TEL: (323) 293-6284 TTY: (323) 639-4501
