3:55pm | Your normally scheduled workforce update: still not good. The Long Beach unemployment rate has improved recently along with that of the state of California, although rates for both this city and state remain very high.
Statistics from June 2010 show that the Long Beach unemployment rate is around 13.5% with 31,700 unemployed in a workforce of 235,200 people. While that is a slight improvement over the age of 15% in early 2010, Long Beach still falls behind the Los Angeles County average of 12.3% and the California average of 12.5%.
Locally, there have been several recent efforts to reinvigorate the job market and connect workers with potential employers. The City of Long Beach recently got behind HireLB.com which casts a wide net over job search engines to collect local opportunities and make them available to people looking for work. Those in charge of the site say there is still much to be done before the site reaches its full potential but the resource is there.
In June, the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network launched a Summer Youth Employment Training Program in an effort to place 1,500 young workers in jobs for the summer. Business could sign up to participate at YourNextHire.biz and be connected with young employees. The organization is hoping that Congress will pass legislation that expands funding for 2011.
Through that program, 5th District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske announced today that her office will hire six young employees to work 20-25 hours per week cleaning local alleys and beautifying the neighborhood.
“Working on improving the alleys will give these young people not only a summer job but a way to make a real difference in the community in which they live,” says Schipske.
Another program that is giving hope to local businesses and employees is the 10,000 Small Businesses Initiative hosted by financial firm Goldman Sachs and aimed at providing funding and training to small companies that are looking to grow. Long Beach City College is providing classroom space and educational opportunities for business owners who are accepted into the program. The application deadline has passed but soon companies will know whether they’ve been accepted to benefit from the program.
The unemployment rate is still unacceptably high here in Long Beach, and more job opportunities are needed. But with a few programs available and others getting underway, the economic recovery road could yield successful results.
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Disclosure: lbpost.com publisher Shaun Lumachi is Chair of the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network board of directors.