In response to growing interest in expanding apprenticeship opportunities, the South Central Coast Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research (SCC COE) conducted an in-depth review of apprenticeship data sources and program activity across the SCC Region and its four counties. The SCC COE will present these findings at a regional webinar on Friday, September 12 at 11 AM via Zoom.

The report, South Central Coast Community College Apprenticeship Opportunities: Expanding Workforce Pathways, analyzes available data from the US Department of Labor (DOL), California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO) to assess the availability, accuracy, and consistency of regional apprenticeship data. According to these sources, community colleges in the SCC Region offer three active apprenticeship programs, five courses, and have received $2.5 million in California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) funding.

The report also documents key trends in apprenticeship funding distribution, program availability, and demographic representation. Findings from this report highlight inconsistent and contradictory data, a concentration of programs in traditional construction and building trades, and relatively homogeneous demographics. Additionally, the absence of student metrics— particularly for relatively new California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI)-funded programs—presents a significant challenge. These insights will guide future research that will examine apprenticeship expansion opportunities based on labor market demand.

To learn more, please register for the SCC COE’s upcoming regional webinar on Friday, September 12 at 11 AM using this link. Stakeholders from community colleges, K12 schools, and the workforce development community in Northern Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties are encouraged to attend.