The Workforce Partnership is pleased to announce that they are providing career center services directly, versus outsourcing to a third-party operator as they have done for many years. There are many community benefits to this transition including enhancing services and job placement for job seekers. “Ensuring that our clients have access to a greater level of support and service is crucial,” says Peter Callstrom, CEO of the Workforce Partnership. “Our career centers have always been about meeting people where they’re at on their career journey and now job seekers will receive even more support in finding a quality career.”
The six career centers offer access to job training, upskilling, education and job placement, at no cost to San Diego County job seekers. Moving services in-house highlights the Workforce Partnership’s commitment to providing job seekers with a high-quality customer service experience and easier access to our breadth of programs and services.
Career centers will now offer virtual evening appointments and increased bilingual staff, in addition to existing services like job interview preparation and helping clients identify their ideal career. They have also removed membership requirements, enabling easier access to services for job seekers. Furthermore, they have added staff dedicated to serving young adults ages 16–24 at their metro, east county, and south county career center locations. In addition, the Workforce Partnership will work with local community partners across the county to pilot providing services in-person and virtually at their locations. “The changes made to our career centers have already caused an increase in customer satisfaction,” says Shaina Gross, VP of Client Services at the Workforce Partnership. “We are committed to continuing the growth and expansion of our services to ensure job seekers are confident in the support we can offer them.”
Career centers operated by the Workforce Partnership help job seekers gain access to meaningful employment, as well as help local businesses gain access to a skilled, trained workforce. “I received valuable support from Gabriella Ledezma, [who works at one of the career centers] and I’m very grateful for her and this program,” says program participant Maria A Carvalho. “The tips and guidance I get from her expertise has given me hope on my job search. She empowered me by taking the time to check in and spend time with me by reviewing my resume and giving me tips. She genuinely showed [more] interest in helping me in my job search than anyone ever has had in this program. She cares and that is rare to find.“
The majority of the Workforce Partnership’s clients are women, Black and/or Latino/a, communities that historically have been locked out of opportunities to build generational wealth. The Workforce Partnership’s recent efforts aim to rectify these longstanding inequalities by ensuring all San Diegans, no matter their background or identity, have access to the support they need to obtain, keep and advance in a quality career.
Job seekers’ needs are changing as fast as the economy is. These changes allow the Workforce Partnership to get closer to job seekers and hear more directly from them about their needs. New features like customer service feedback kiosks allow them to adapt processes, program offerings and their customer service strategy in response to market changes and customer feedback more quickly than ever before.
The Workforce Partnership operates and has expanded the following career centers across the region where anyone 16+ can access services:
-
Access Inc.
-
-
Open to job seekers ages 16 to 24 years old
-
2612 Daniel Ave, San Diego, CA 92111
-
-
Bank of America Merrill Lynch Workforce Development Center
-
-
330 Park Blvd., Room #555, San Diego, CA 92101
-
-
East County Career Center
-
-
151 Van Houten Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020
-
-
Metro Career Center
-
-
4389 Imperial Ave., San Diego, CA 92113
-
-
North County Coastal Career Center
-
-
3708 Ocean Ranch Blvd, Oceanside, CA 92056
-
-
North County Inland Career Center
-
-
649 W. Mission Ave., Room 2400, Escondido, CA 92025
-
-
South County Career Center
-
1111 Bay Blvd, Suite E, Chula Vista, CA 91911
-
Services may also be accessed by calling (619) 319-WORK (9675) or emailing hello@workforce.org.