Item 09 - Biennial Modification to the PY 2021-24 Regional and Local Workforce Plan

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Orange RPU 2023 Biennial Modification to PY 2021-24 Regional Plan 6 occupations. The shrinking working-age population could impact economic prosperity and cause more challenges for employers filling open positions. Ethnic diversity in Orange County is high. The national average for an area the size of Orange County is 1,289,103 racially diverse people, while there are 1.95 million in Orange County.7 Orange County’s diversity is projected to continue to grow through 2060. Whites (39%) and Hispanics8 (36%) make up the largest percentage of the Orange County population. White population declined by 8% between 2017 and 2023.9 Growing diversity will increasingly be a key workforce and economic development advantage for Orange County. Diversity often creates an environment where exchanging ideas, strategies, and viewpoints fuels innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing to sustained economic success. Racial diversity challenges local education providers and workforce development to support English learners’ success by improving program support and creating innovative programs such as vocational ESL programs. Non-English speakers represent 45.5% of Orange County residents, which is higher than the national average of 21.9%. In 2018, Spanish was the most common non-English language spoken, with 24.8% of Orange County residents being native Spanish speakers. Vietnamese (6.44%) and Mandarin (2.94%) are the second and third most common languages.10 Many diverse populations, low-income communities, communities of color, and immigrant communities experience disproportionate economic and social impacts due to systemic inequalities. These include limited access to education, employment opportunities, healthcare, higher poverty rates, unemployment, and underemployment. Additionally, these communities are more vulnerable to the impacts of natural disasters like COVID- 19, environmental pollution, and other forms of environmental injustice. The pandemic has disproportionately affected these communities, with higher rates of illness and death among people of color. Many within this population have been hit harder by the economic downturn. Industry employment, including self-employment, private household workers, and farm and nonfarm jobs in Orange County, is projected to reach 1,890,300 by 2028, a 7.2% increase over the ten-year projection period of 2018 to 2028. Eleven of the 13 nonfarm industry sectors are projected to grow during this period. 7Lightcast, 2021, https://analyst.lightcast.io/. 8 Lightcast, 2021, https://analyst.lightcast.io/, Hispanic population includes all races that identify as Hispanic. 9 Lightcast, 2021, https://analyst.lightcast.io/. 10 Bureau, US Census. “American Community Survey Data Releases.” The United States Census Bureau, 31 July 2020, www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/news/data-releases.2018.html. 39% 34% 22% 2%3% Racial/Ethnic Breakdown 2020 White Hispanic Asian Black Other Source:LIGHTCAST Labor Market Analytics, 2021 EXHIBIT 1