Workforce Development Board (WDB)
San Luis Obispo County
Dawn Boulanger, WDB Director
Workforce Development Board (WDB)
o Local Business Leaders
- Majority led with at least 51% of membership
o Community Partner Members
- Government/Economic and Community Development
- Education (Community College, Adult Education)
- Labor Organizations/Registered Apprenticeship
o Appointed by the County Board of Supervisors
o Oversight of the County’s public workforce system, SLO Cal Careers • Isiah Gomer –Chair WDB Members 2026
Paso Robles Waste & Recycle
• William Hills – Vice Chair
United Staffing Associates
• David Baldwin
Pipe Trades Local 403
• Josh Cross
Atascadero Chamber of Commerce
• Julie Sinton Pruniski
REACH
• Verena Latona-Tahlman
Cannon Corporation
• Justin McIntire
Department of Rehabilitation
• Veronica Orozco
Employment Development Department
• Cheryl London
Templeton Adult School
• Angela Rayfield
Rantec Power Systems Inc.
• Ian Journey
Journey Engineering, Inc.
• Mark Simonin
Local IBEW 639
• Dr. Aubrey Priest
Cuesta College
• Ryan Stanley
Operating Engineers Local 12
• Angela Toomey
Morris & Garritano Insurance
• Patrick Woolpert
Compass Health, Inc.
• Danielle McIntire
Cliffs Resort & Spa
SLO Cal Careers
Our community’s one-stop access to employment related services o Business Services - posting job openings, recruiting and screening qualified candidates, and additional workforce support. o Job Seekers receive assistance in skills assessment and training, labor market information & finding job opportunities, and pre-interview preparation.
o Rapid Response – supporting business who are facing layoffs and the affected workers
o Layoff Aversion/Business Retention – support businesses who are facing challenges to help avoid layoffs/closures
SLO Cal Careers job-seeker services include:
All at NO Cost!
• Resource room (open to the public) providing access to:
Career Coaches;
Computer, copier, phone/interview space;
EDD and CalWORKs staff; and
Work Readiness/Occupational skills workshops
• Job preparation assistance (resume, mock interviews, job search) • Vocational skills training (classroom or on-the-job)
• Supportive services (books, interview clothing, transportation, etc.) SLO Cal Careers business services include:
• Job Posting
• Creating/editing job orders
• Outreach, recruitment, and screening to fill open positions • Skills testing of your candidates
• On-the-job training, internships, and short-term subsidized employment • Workshops on HR, legal, and business development topics • Coordinate recruitment/job fair events
• HR Advice Hotline 888-710-0905
All at NO Cost!
State of the Workforce Report
Workforce Development Board & BW Research Partnership
o Economic landscapes
o Trends
o Changes in industry & job composition
o Commute and migration patterns
o Other factors influencing the daily lives of workers in San Luis Obispo County
All o f th e c o u n ty’s
h ig h - e a rn in g
in d u s try c lu s te rs
d e c lin e d over a 5 -
ye a r p e rio d .
J o b s EQ Q3 20 23, Bu re a u o f La b o r Sta tis tic s . Qu a rte rly Ce n s u s o f Em p lo ym e n t a n d Wa g e s ( 20 23) .
Ke y Fin d in g : Hig h - Ea rn in g In d u s t ry Clu s t e rs All o f th e c o u n ty’s
m id - e a rn in g
in d u s try c lu s te rs
grew over a 5 - yea r
p e rio d .
J o b s EQ Q3 20 23, Bu re a u o f La b o r Sta tis tic s . Qu a rte rly Ce n s u s o f Em p lo ym e n t a n d Wa g e s ( 20 23) .
Ke y Fin d in g : Mid - Ea rn in g In d u s t ry Clu s t e rs Th e c o u n ty’s lo we s te a rn in g in d u s try
c lu s te rs e xp e rie n c e d
m ixe d g row th over
the 5 - ye a r p e rio d .
Ag ric u ltu re a n d
To u ris m grew wh ile
Lo g is tic s , Re ta il, a n d
Oth e r Se rvic e s
d e c lin e d .
J o b s EQ Q3 20 23, Bu re a u o f La b o r Sta tis tic s . Qu a rte rly Ce n s u s o f Em p lo ym e n t a n d Wa g e s ( 20 23) .
Ke y Fin d in g : Lo w e s t- Ea rn in g In d u s t ry Clu s t e rs Sa n Lu is Ob is p o
County ha s ha d
difficulty retaining
high - level local
talent .
J o b s EQ Q3 20 23, Bu re a u o f La b o r Sta tis tic s . Qu a rte rly Ce n s u s o f Em p lo ym e n t a n d Wa g e s ( 20 23) .
Ke y Fin d in g : W o rk in g Re s id e n t s & Co u n t y J o b s Sa n Lu is Ob is p o
County ha s a
“U- sha ped” a ge
d is trib u tion .
Ag e Co m p o s itio n in Sa n Lu is
Ob is p o Co u n ty ( 20 21)
Un ite d Sta te s Ce n s u s Bu re a u . Am e ric a n Co m m u n ity Su rve y 5 - ye a r Es tim a te s ( 20 22) .
Ke y Fin d in g : De m og ra p h ic s
Ke y Fin d in g :
Sa n Lu is Ob is p o Co u n ty
h a s a h ig h e r s h a re o f
low- w a g e job s, low e r
a ve ra g e e a rn in g s, a n d
h ig h e r h ou s in g c os ts
than the statewide
a ve ra g e .
J o b s EQ Q3
20 22, Bu re a u o f
La b o r
Sta tis tic s .
Qu a rte rly
Ce n s u s o f
Em p lo ym e n t
a nd Wa ges
(2022).
Co s t o f Liv in g
J o b Qu a lit y b y Tie rs
Av e ra g e Ea rn in g s v s . Me d ia n Ho m e Co s t
J o b s EQ Q1 20 23, Bu re a u o f La b o r Sta tis tic s . Qu a rte rly Ce n s u s o f Em p lo ym e n t a n d Wa g e s ( 20 23) .
Ca lifo rn ia As s o c ia tio n o f Re a lto rs .
His to ric a l Ho u s in g Da ta s e t ( 20 23) .
Housing burdens
are s ig n ific a n t in
Sa n Lu is Ob is p o
County.
Un ite d Sta te s Ce n s u s Bu re a u .
Am e ric a n Co m m u n ity Su rve y 5 -
ye a r Es tim a te s ( 20 21) .
Homeowners’ Share of Income Spent on Housing Costs
Renters’ Share of Income Spent on Housing Costs
Ke y Fin d in g : Hou s in g Cos ts
Ho u s in g c o s ts in
Sa n Lu is Ob is p o
County a re
h ig h e r th a n s ta te
a n d n a tio n a l
a vera g es.
California Association of Realtors. Housing Affordability Index and Historical Housing Dataset (2023).
Percent of Households who can Afford
a Median - Priced Home
Median Home Price, Single - Family
Detached Homes
Ke y Fin d in g : Hou s in g Cos ts
12%
19%
40%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
San Luis Obispo California United States
$828,583
$759,433
$429,000
$0
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
$1,000,000
San Luis Obispo California United States
Cru c ia l s e c to rs o f th e c o u n ty’s
in fra s tru c tu re wo rkfo rc e h a ve shed
job s in re c e n t ye a rs .
Ab s e n t c u rre n t in ve s tm e n ts in lo c a l
ta le n t, fu tu re p roje c ts m a y b e
d e la ye d if wo rke rs fro m o u ts id e th e
re g io n a re n o t a va ila b le to s h o re u p
th e c o u n ty’s in fra s tru c tu re wo rkfo rc e .
Un ite d Sta te s Ce n s u s Bu re a u . Am e ric a n Co m m u n ity Su rve y 5 - yea r Es tim a te s ( 20 21) .
SLO County Water Workforce Employment
(Cumulative % Change)
SLO County Energy Workforce Employment
(Cumulative % Change)
Ke y Fin d in g : In fra s t ru c t u re W o rk fo rc e Age Group 14-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+
Employment (%) 8% 19% 28% 20% 17% 9%
Th e c o u n ty's re s id e n tia l
c o n s tru c tio n wo rkfo rc e is
a g in g , a n d a wa ve of
re tire m e n ts is a p p ro a c h in g .
J o b s EQ Q4 20 21. Bu re a u o f La b o r Sta tis tic s . Qu a rte rly Ce n s u s o f Em p lo ym e n t a n d Wa g e s ( 20 18 - 20 21) .
SLO County Residential Construction Workforce
Employment by Age Range
SLO County Residential Construction Workforce Employment ( Cu m u la tive % Ch a n g e )
Ke y Fin d in g : In fra s t ru c t u re W o rk fo rc e Local Hire in
SLO County
COSTS BENEFITS
Potential Project
Delays
Additional
Compliance
Requirements
Higher Project Costs
Supports Job
Accessibility
Generates Tax
Revenues
Stimulates Local
Spending
Improves County
Job Quality
Higher-Paying Jobs
for Residents
Local Hire
Key Finding
#1
Local hire programs support local job quality by setting a minimum level of employment for high-wage, accessible
Construction jobs.
– 77% of Construction jobs pay wages higher than the county median wage. – 11% of Construction workers have a 4-year degree.
Source:
San Luis Obispo County State
of the Workforce 2023 Study
San Luis Obispo County’s Job Quality by Tiers
Local hire requirements generate significant economic and fiscal impacts.
Source: IMPLAN
Local Hire
Key Finding #2
Fiscal Impacts Per 100 Additional Local Construction Workers Economic Impacts Per 100 Additional Local Construction Workers Bolster career
exploration for
construction &
infrastructure
jobs for students
in middle and
high school.
Local Hire
WDB
Initiatives
Provide training
opportunities
(apprenticeships &
community college
programs) and
connect them with
career pathways in
infrastructure,
building & design.
Support a
moderate
local hire
requirement
to support the
local
workforce.
Increase
awareness
of the local
& economic
benefits of
local hire
initiatives.
to s u p p o rt th e g ro wth o f n e w lo c a l b u s in e s s e s , p a rtic u la rly in h ig h e r- wa g e s e c to rs .
De v e lo p t h e En t re p re n e u ria l Ec o s y s t e m b y in ve s tin g in lo c a l tra n s p o rta tio n a n d te le c o m m u n ic a tio n s in fra s tru c tu re a n d b e tte r u n d e rs ta n d th e ir ro le in th e c o u n ty e c o n o m y.
Su p p o rt t h e Ne e d s o f Re m o t e W o rk e rs
to h e lp m a ke s u re th a t h ig h h o u s in g c o s ts d o n o t c o n s tra in lo c a l la b o r m a rke t g ro wth .
En s u re a n Ad e q u a t e Su p p ly o f Lo c a l
Afford a b le Hou s in g
W DB SLO In it ia t iv e s : At t ra c t & Re t a in Ta le n t W DB SLO In it ia t iv e s : Ad d re s s De c lin in g J ob Qu a lit y De v e lo p Lo c a l Em p lo y m e n t Pa t h w a y s
Wo rk with Cu e s ta Co lle g e , Ca l Po ly, a n d la b o r u n io n s to d e ve lo p tra in in g c o u rs e s a n d p ro g ra m s to fill s kills g a p s in p a th wa ys to h ig h e r- wa g e jo b s .
Pa rt n e r w it h Ed u c a t o rs t o Fill Sk ills Ga p s in h ig h - wa g e c o n s tru c tio n jo b s to m a xim ize e m p lo ym e n t o p p o rtu n itie s fo r re s id e n ts th a t will a ris e d u e to u p c o m in g in fra s tru c tu re in ve s tm e n ts .
Su p p o rt Lo c a l Hirin g In it ia t iv e s
fo r h ig h e r- wa ge jo b s a n d in d u s try c lu s te rs . Fo s te r c o n n e c tio n s b e twe e n lo c a l e d u c a tio n a l in s titu tio n s a n d lo c a l b u s in e s s e s .
Contact Information
SLO Cal Careers Center
3563 Empleo St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 439-2557
[email protected] | www.SLOCalCareers.org
Dawn Boulanger, WDB Director
(805) 781-1835
[email protected]
Workforce Development Board
www.SLOworkforce.com