NEWS

Justin, 25, once worked in sales but knew he was meant for something more. Tyler, 20, grew up in a family of firefighters, raised on stories of service and sacrifice. Both were searching for purpose and found it through the EMS Corps program, developed by the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) and Mt. Diablo Adult Education. With the help of WDBCCC, tuition was covered using Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) federal training funds. Mt. Diablo Adult Education provided the classroom and instructional foundation that gave Justin and Tyler the skills to pursue EMT certification.

Administered by the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) in partnership with the Workforce Services Bureau, the CCWORKS Subsidized Employment Program is dedicated to helping CalWORKS and Welfare-to-Work (WTW) participants build strong pathways to employment. Through CCWORKS, employers receive a wage subsidy to hire eligible participants for up to six months—opening doors to meaningful work experience, new skills, and renewed confidence on the path to long-term, unsubsidized employment.

The Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Contra Costa County was proudly represented at the Annual California Workforce Association (CWA) Day at the Capitol by Executive Director Tamia Brown, Youth Program Manager and Grant Manager Noramah Burch, and Administrative Services Assistant III Vincent Manuel. This important statewide event provides a platform for workforce development leaders to engage directly with Sacramento legislators and their staff, sharing insights on regional initiatives and pressing workforce needs.

The Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC), in partnership with the Bay Front Chamber of Commerce, co-hosted and sponsored the 2026 West Contra Costa Career & Resource Fair on February 18, 2026. Held at the Hercules Community Center, the event brought together employers, community partners, and local job seekers from across the county.

The Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC), through the Displaced Oil and Gas Workers Fund (DOGWF), has launched a new training cohort in partnership with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and Laborers’ Local 324. This cohort represents a strategic investment in union career pathways that allow participants to build on their existing skills while remaining within the same union.

At the WDBCCC, we are proud to be part of a new Bay Area program that aims to support this population and other under-served, under-resourced individuals while promoting economic growth. The Workforce Waterfront Coalition is an industry-led initiative that seeks to create a pipeline of ship maintenance and repair workers.

A recent $1 million award from the High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) allows the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) to expand an innovative job program designed to achieve equity for more people in Contra Costa County’s underserved communities. The Paramedic 4 Equity (P4E) program allows emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to train to become paramedics while earning a paycheck.

CCWORKS’ first-ever such program, the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Pilot included four students who participated across county district offices, which included the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) and two Employment & Human Services offices in Antioch and Richmond. The youth participants were 16- and 17-year-old students from Contra Costa County.

Stephen Baiter, executive director of the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (EDA), sees leisure and hospitality and retail trade gains leveling off after explosive growth. However, he views manufacturing as an exceptionally hot spot with a promising future for the East Bay. “Manufacturing has been strong in the East Bay for a while now,” Baiter said. “This is due not only to Tesla’s strong production growth and corresponding spillover effects for local suppliers, but this also extends to the biomedical, medical devices and computer equipment subsectors.”

September is Workforce Development Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of workforce development boards (WDB) to a growing national economy. A key person in this work statewide is Bob Lanter, executive director of the California Workforce Association. A Contra Costa County native and former director of the WDB of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC), Bob recently returned to his roots to attend our board retreat. We asked him for his take on the importance of WDBs and how the WDBCCC is living up to its mission of achieving equity for all.

In this article, we explore Contra Costa County employers’ difficulties finding employees with hard skills and soft skills. For reference, hard skills are defined as specific knowledge and abilities required to complete a job, such as a language proficiency, computer programming, or typing speed. Soft skills, also known as “people skills,” are related to personal interactions such as communication, organization, and teamwork.

Our last article covered the employment phenomenon known as “The Great Resignation” or “The Big Quit.” To gain insights, we conducted an employer survey from January 31 through April 15. More than 100 businesses in Contra Costa and surrounding counties responded, revealing quite a bit.

Whether you call it the “Great Resignation” or the “Big Quit,” American workers are leaving their jobs in record numbers. In November 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a record-setting 4.5 million employees nationwide quit their jobs, following several months of similar highs. In the same month, 428,000 California workers voluntarily separated.

Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to build and rebuild a local economy while ensuring equity and justice in the process. No single organization can do it alone. Fortunately, Contra Costa County has many organizations doing outstanding work, and we at the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County are proud to partner with them. As we close 2021, we want to shine a light on our partners and thank them for joining us as we work to achieve equitable economic growth in our communities.

The Optical Assistant Training Program at Martinez Adult Education is a no-cost 16-week program that trains students for entry-level jobs as optical assistants at Walmart, Costco, Warby Parker and other opticians. Because the program allows students to work while they learn it has drawn great interest from prospective students. It’s attractive to employers because of the steady pipeline of qualified workers it provides.

The Health Ambassador Adult Pilot Program, which launched January 2021 through a partnership between the WDBCCC, Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services and Contra Costa Health Services, strives to get vulnerable populations to work performing critical community services, while building the skills and experience necessary to gain entry to the health field, which is one of WDB’s priority sectors.

The AMBayArea Manufacturing Ambassadors Program sends ambassadors from manufacturing companies into high schools, including those in school districts with large numbers of underrepresented and diverse populations. This is important for the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County (WDBCCC) as we focus on achieving equity in the Contra Costa workforce. Learn about this program and how it helps employers and students.

When we think about an equitable economic recovery, we envision a workforce system that benefits all individuals, especially those who face the greatest barriers to creating the future they want for themselves. That includes justice-involved individuals.

Over the past year, our work has become even more focused as increased awareness of racial equity and justice issues throughout the country raised the importance of addressing related challenges within the workforce system.