September 2, 2019 - Labor Day is a special holiday here at the Employment Development Department (EDD). It’s an opportunity to celebrate those we serve: the workers and employers who contribute to California’s strong economy.

At the EDD, we are proud to be part of California’s workforce development system—a network of services that connect job seekers to career opportunities and employers to well-trained workers. In honor of Labor Day, we’d like to highlight California’s strong economy and its workforce development system.

Here you’ll learn about the top middle-skill occupations in California and current labor market trends. You’ll also find no-cost resources for employers and job seekers and real-life stories of those who’ve benefited from the state’s workforce development system. 

Top Middle-Skill Occupations*

Middle-skill occupations require more education or training than a high school diploma but not necessarily a four-year college degree. These jobs usually demand skills you can obtain through the state’s workforce development system.

We have compiled the top five middle-skill occupations by projected growth in California’s 14 economic regions. Select a region to see its top five middle-skill occupations and the current number of advertisements in those occupations.

*Projected job growth is for the time period of 2016-2026.

Labor Day Briefing

Each year, we release A Labor Day Briefing for California (PDF). This briefing shows important labor market trends and current statistics relating to the state’s economy today.

Highlights of this year’s briefing include:

• A record 113 months of job growth, tying California’s employment expansion of the 1960s as the longest on record.
• Nearly 1.4 million jobs created across two industries leading California’s employment expansion: Professional and business services and education and health services.
• 4.8 million job openings projected between the second quarter of 2018 and the second quarter of 2020.

Success Stories

These inspiring stories of success show how job seekers and employers connect through California’s workforce development system. Visit the following to learn how:

• Darin Norgaard became a successful truck driver in Tracy.
• Maria Adell used local job services to become a home care aide in San Diego.
• Alexis Negrete trained to become a construction worker in Fresno.
• Clarissa Perez took classes to become an accountant in Marysville.
• Michael Brown attended courses to get a trucking job in the Humboldt area.
• Sesar Juarez trained to become a lab technician in the Los Angeles area.
• Elizabeth Ochoa and Odalys Garcia became instructional aides in Madera.

Resources for Employers

Are you looking for skilled workers? Interested in saving money on training costs? Need help recruiting talent or finding tax credits and incentives? Visit Employer Information for no-cost resources to help your business succeed.

Resources for Job Seekers

Do you need job search assistance? Want to attend training to learn a new skill? Are you a veteran looking to return to work? Visit Job Seeker Information for no-cost resources to help you develop your skills and find a job.

Social Media

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Search #WorkingInCA, #CAJobs, and #CaliforniaForAll for the latest information about resources for job seekers and employers.
Source: EDD