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Orange RPU PY 2025-2028 Regional Plan
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<br />disparities across racial and ethnic groups reveal a more complex story. In 2023, White
<br />Non-Hispanic individuals earned the highest number of college degrees, with 558,561
<br />graduates, followed by Asian Non-Hispanic individuals, who earned 335,536 degrees. In
<br />contrast, Black and Non-Hispanic individuals earned 19,521 degrees, highlighting a
<br />significant gap in representation. Among Hispanic populations, White Hispanic individuals
<br />earned 165,339 degrees, while other Hispanic subgroups, such as Black Hispanic
<br />(2,673), Asian Hispanic (2,606), and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander Hispanic (568),
<br />reported far lower numbers.41
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<br />Indigenous populations also faced significant disparities, with American Indian or Alaskan
<br />Native, non-Hispanic individuals earning only 1,376 degrees and their Hispanic
<br />counterparts earning 4,727. Similarly, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic
<br />individuals earned 2,148 degrees, and those identifying as Two or More Races, non-
<br />Hispanic, earned 18,277. The disparities become even more apparent among Hispanic
<br />individuals in these categories, with only 568 degrees earned by Native Hawaiian or
<br />Pacific Islander Hispanic individuals and 3,657 by Two or More Races, Hispanic
<br />individuals.42
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<br />These disparities are reflected in the composition of the workforce, particularly in access
<br />to middle- and high-skill roles that require postsecondary education or technical
<br />certifications. The most popular academic programs in the region, such as Liberal Arts
<br />and Sciences (17,925 completions in 2023), Business Administration and Management
<br />(7,199 completions), and Psychology (3,161 completions), provide broad-based skills but
<br />often do not align directly with specific employer needs in fields like healthcare, logistics,
<br />or technology.43
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<br />Current Employer Needs
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<br />Orange County employers benefit from a highly educated workforce, yet many struggle
<br />to find candidates with the right mix of technical and soft skills to meet labor market
<br />demands. Skill gaps persist across key sectors, including healthcare, business,
<br />technology, and manufacturing, limiting the region’s ability to fully capitalize on its
<br />economic potential.
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<br />Employers across Orange County consistently highlight significant skill gaps that hinder
<br />their ability to meet business demands, as identified through regional plan stakeholder
<br />meetings, business services engagements, and the Jobs First Regional Plan. While job
<br />posting data provides critical insights into workforce needs, employer feedback
<br />underscores that gaps exist in both technical and soft skills. Industries such as healthcare,
<br />technology, and finance report challenges finding candidates proficient in digital literacy,
<br />AI-related skills, and industry-specific certifications, such as those required for nursing
<br />assistants, bookkeeping, and auditing clerks. Additionally, employers emphasize the
<br />growing importance of interpersonal competencies, including communication, problem-
<br />solving, and customer service skills, which are often insufficiently addressed in traditional
<br />educational programs. This feedback highlights the need for a more holistic approach to
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<br />41 Lightcast. Educational Capital Attainment Snapshot. Accessed January 2025. https://analyst.lightcast.io.
<br />42 Lightcast. Educational Capital Attainment Snapshot
<br />43 Lightcast. Educational Capital Attainment Snapshot
<br />EXHIBIT 1
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