Three Centers of Excellence (COE) directors representing the Inland Empire/Desert, South Central Coast, and Orange County regions delivered a joint presentation to nearly 250 community college leaders at the Statewide Convening on Apprenticeship Pathways in Costa Mesa, focusing on California’s next decade of work and the role apprenticeship must play in meeting the state’s workforce needs.

IE/D COE Director Shannon Moran presented on Automation and Energy Transition, introducing the concept of the “Convergence Worker”, a new type of worker who blends physical trades, professional skills, and digital systems fluency. As California pursues its zero-emission goals, demand is surging for workers who can install solar systems, wind turbines, EV infrastructure, and heat pumps. With only about 1,700 non-traditional apprenticeship completions in 2023, community colleges have a significant opportunity to use apprenticeship to train and map pathways for these emerging workers at scale.

Colleagues Jacob Poore (SCC COE) and Dr. Jesse Crete (OC COE) examined complementary workforce pressures. Poore highlighted a projected 59% growth in adults 65+ by 2040, driving urgent demand for elder care, allied health, and behavioral health professionals, all areas ripe for apprenticeship career ladders. Crete outlined a “Rising Storm” of labor shortages, with population projected to outpace labor force growth nearly 8 to 1 and immigration declining, creating a potential deficit of 6 million workers by decade’s end.

Together, the Directors concluded that California Community Colleges are uniquely positioned, through mission and infrastructure, to close these gaps. Apprenticeship is the fastest bridge from current conditions to future workforce needs.

The full presentation is available here.