ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY:

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

OUR PURPOSE 

We support connections between people in our region and real job opportunities in growing industries. We strengthen career pathways, share insights on high-growth sectors, and align education and workforce systems so Angelenos can access good, livable-wage careers.

Our focus is simple: Expanding access to well-paying jobs in growing industries.

WHAT WE DO

  • We focus our efforts on industries that are expanding and creating long-term opportunity.
  • We use labor market data and industry demand to determine where the region should concentrate workforce efforts.

We maintain ongoing relationships with employers to understand:

  • Skill needs
  • Hiring challenges
  • Emerging trends
  • Workforce gaps

Employer input helps shape pathway development and strategy.

We work across multiple entry points to ensure preparation connects to opportunity, including:

  • K–12, Post-Secondary Education, Community colleges, Cal State, Universities
  • Work-based learning
  • Sector-based workforce strategies
  • Partner-led training and community initiatives

Our role is to strengthen alignment, so pathways lead to employment in high-demand fields.

We analyze workforce and economic data to:

  • Inform regional strategy
  • Support sector planning
  • Guide partner decision-making
  • Identify opportunity gaps

We translate data into clear direction.

We bring together:

  • Employers
  • Education systems
  • Community organizations
  • Regional collaboratives
  • Public and private partners

Our goal is to reduce fragmentation and strengthen coordination across the workforce system.

OUR 3 PART COMMITMENT

ENGAGE 
We unite business leaders, educators, training providers, and community partners from every corner of LA County. Through regular collaboration, listening sessions, and data-informed strategies, we identify what employers truly need. Then, we align training and education programs to ensure Angelenos are prepared for the good-paying jobs of today and the careers of the future. 
 
EMPOWER 
We turn complex job market data into clear, actionable insights for students, industry partners, workers, and educators. Through tools like Gladeo LA and regular convenings with industry partners, we help translate trends into practical guidance. This makes it easier for people in underserved neighborhoods to understand their options, gain confidence, and develop the skills needed to succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s workforce.
 
ELEVATE 
With deep relationships built and insights in hand, we act. We implement what we’ve learned by scaling programs, launching employer-informed initiatives, and expanding access to work-based learning and career pathways. Elevate is about impact — helping more Angelenos secure good-paying, future-ready jobs and creating lasting economic mobility for families and communities.

LATEST NEWS

THE LATEST from WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

LAEDC’s Workforce Development team partnered with Visa to host Financial Football on February 11th at NFL headquarters for high school students in …