Ventura County Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC) is excited to announce the launch of the new Ventura County Works Hub, a virtual call center and online resource hub where job seekers will be navigated to the appropriate services offered by the Workforce Development Programs and Partners across Ventura County.
“WDBVC believes our new Ventura County Works Hub will help job seekers easily connect with our resources and our partner’s resources,” explained Norman Albances, Assistant Director WDBVC. “We recognized that we needed job seekers to have easier access to our services. Therefore, job seekers can call, fill out a form, or chat with our Navigators who will then provide an individualized assessment so they can connect them to real-time programs and services, all at no cost.”
August reporting by CNBC (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/02/august-2022-jobs-report-.html) showed the unemployment rate climbed to 3.7%, two-tenths of a percentage point higher than expectations. Wages rose 5.2% from a year ago, slightly lower than estimated, and the biggest sector gains were in professional and business services, health care, and retail.
Just in time to meet the increased job placement demands, the new Ventura County Works Hub will aid job seekers with the individualized services and resources needed. Jobseekers can call 805-648-WORK (648-9675), or visit https://workforceventuracounty.org
“It’s an exciting time in the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County’s 40-year history,” said Rebecca Evans, Executive Director. “This new resource allows us to easily help those in need of a career change, job training and certification by bringing the service to them, all at no cost to our community.”
Staff are on standby M-F 8-12 noon and 1-5 pm, with services available in both English and Spanish. Individuals can also access the live chat function on the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County’s website to connect with services and support.
In other Workforce news Stephen Yeoh has been elected as chair and Sandy Smith as vice-char. Yeoh and Smith will serve one-year terms.
Stephen Yeoh, who joined the board in 2016, is the Chief Peace of Mind Officer at Un1teee, an IT service provider located in Thousand Oaks with clients in the healthcare, finance, and legal industries. He served on the board of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce and was a volunteer instructor for the Central Coast Chapter of the Project Management Institute.
Smith was appointed to WDB in 2020. He is a project manager at Sespe Consulting, Inc., an engineering, land use and environmental company based in Ventura. Smith, a former Ventura city council member, is currently a Senior Adjunct Instructor at Cal Lutheran University. He is a long-time participant in non-profits that focus on sustaining this county’s quality of life. “I’m looking forward to working with staff and our board in our continued efforts to promote innovative workforce programs and institutions that offer all our residents an opportunity for a higher quality of life,” says Smith.
Members of the WDB include leaders from business, economic development, education, labor, government, and community-based organizations.
