Los Angeles / Orange County Regional Consortium Public Sector Workforce Challenges & Opportunities July 18, 2007
Dec 26, 2015
Los Angeles / Orange County Regional Consortium
Public Sector
Workforce Challenges &
Opportunities
July 18, 2007
Research Objectives
• Assess current and projected public sector workforce needs within the Los Angeles and Orange County region, with a focus on public administration and public utilities
• Develop and analyze indicators of potential shortages or gaps in occupational supply and demand
• Identify potential solutions to workforce challenges that can be addressed by the community colleges
Methodology
• Secondary Research of the Industry and Occupations
• Executive Interviews with Employers
• Telephone Survey of 150 Public Sector Employers
110 Public Administration Employers
40 Public Utility Employers
Fielded June 13 – 25, 2007
Public Sector Industry Definition
Current Focus: Public Administration and Utilities
Public Sector
Municipal Services
Administration of Public Works
Programs
Health Services & Social Assistance
NAICS 62
Public Administration
NAICS 92
Criminal Justice and
Public Safety
Education
NAICS 61
Utilities
NAICS 22
Transportation & Warehousing
NAICS 48-49
Profile of Employment: 2005
Within the region, over 212,000 workers are employed within Public Administration and Utilities
Employment Projections
Replacement needs far outpace growth for both public administration and utilities employers
2005
EmploymentExpected Growth Next 12 Months
Estimated Replacements Next 12 Months
% # % #
Public Administration 193,240 4.6% 8,900 8.7% 16,840
Public Utilities 18,940 0.5% 90 2.9% 550
• Public Sector: 10.3% job growth 2006-2014 in the region Orange County 18.8%, LA County 8.1%
• Private Utilities: 9.1% growth 2006-2014 Orange County 19.4%, LA County 6.2%
Promoting Practices
For non-entry level positions, most employers either recruit from outside (35%) or strike a balance between recruiting
from outside and promoting from within (37%)
Public Utility employers were more likely to recruit from outside
Recruiting from Outside the Region
23% of employers always or frequently recruit employees from outside the Los Angeles/ Orange County region
Formal Succession Plans
On average, employers expect 8.5% of their public administration employees and 6.4% of their utility employees to
retire over the next three years, representing 17,700 workers
39% of Organizations have formal succession plans in place
Recent Hires: General Skill Deficiencies
Public Administration employers were more likely to mention general writing skills Public Utility employers were more likely to mention technical competence and ability to work independently
Occupational Assessment Categories
• Employer survey results: growth and difficulty hiring • Projected job growth 2004 - 2014• Projected replacements and separations
REDOccupations that provide the STRONGEST indication that they
will be undersupplied in the future
YELLOWOccupations that provide SOME indication that they will be
undersupplied in the future
GREENOccupations that provide LITTLE TO NO indication that they will
be undersupplied in the future
Occupations Assessment
RED OCCUPATIONS
• Water and Wastewater Operators
• Computer Analysts and Computer Support Specialists
• Supervisors/ Managers of Technicians & Maintenance Workers
YELLOW OCCUPATIONS
• Program Analysts, including Staff Service Analysts
• Budget, Business and Financial Analysts
• Supervisors or Managers of Office and Admin. Support Workers
• Accountants or Auditors
• Power Plant Operators
Difficulty Hiring and Growth Matrix
Computer Analysts &
Support Specialists
AccountantsAuditors
Water and Waste Water Operators
Computer Analysts &
Support Specialists
Purchasing Agents
Supervisors:Office Support
Workers
AccountantsAuditors
Program Analysts
Budget Analysts
Supervisors: Maintenance Workers
Career Ladders
Community College Student
Water/ Wastewater
Technician or Jr. Operator
Technically Minded
Computer Tech. orJr. Analyst/
Support Specialist
Policy Minded
Program or Budget Analyst
File Clerk orOffice/ Admin. Support Worker
Computer Analyst orSupport Specialist
Water or Wastewater
Operator or Sr.Technician
Senior Management or Budget Analyst
CFO or Controller orCity Manager
Supervisor/ Mgr of Office and Admin.
Support Workers
Department HeadIT Manager or
Senior Analyst or Network Administrator
Plant or Systems Supervisor
Interest in Community College Programs
71% of employers were interested in on-site customized training from community colleges
Interest in Joining Consortium
76% of employers would likely join a consortium where community colleges provide standardized training and
workshops to public agencies
Conclusions I
• Consortium Training in a Competitive Environment
• Public Sector employers are more likely to recruit from outside (35%) than promote from within (24%)
• Over 2/3rds (71%) of PS employers were interested in on-site customized training for current employees
• Over ¾’s (76%) of PS employers indicated they were either very likely or somewhat likely to join a consortium training model
• Typically, cities are most likely the focus of consortium training but the significant need for water operators could provide an opportunity with Public Utilities
Conclusions II
• Employer Perception of Educational Degrees
• A majority of PS employers expected a Bachelor’s degree for 5 of the 8 occupations evaluated
• A general Bachelor’s degree is preferred over a specific Associate’s degree for half of the occupations
• “Writing skills” were most often cited as a deficiency among new hires and employers believed that is better taught in a 4 year degree
• There was generally a low level of awareness among PS employers about Associate degree and Certificate programs at the community colleges
Conclusions III
• According to PS employers, awareness of PS employment opportunities is low among current students and job seekers
• Communicate employment options to current students
Immediate employment out of the Community Colleges (Water Operator, Program Analyst)
Internship opportunities with PS employers while going to school
Advancement opportunities while working in the Public Sector and working towards a 4 year degree
Energy & Environment – Green Technology
• Definition & Sectors to Focus on
• Energy Production (Solar, Wind)
• Professional Services (Research & Design Svcs.)
• Transportation (Bio-fuels, Batteries)
• Water & Sewage Systems
• Manufacturing (Building materials)
• Waste Mgmt. & remediation services
• Building & Construction