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Orange RPU PY 2025-2028 Regional Plan <br />33 | Page <br /> <br />Efforts to strengthen information sharing have included discussions on data-sharing <br />agreements with community college partners, which would enable a more comprehensive <br />understanding of training outcomes and employment placements. However, navigating <br />legal and logistical challenges associated with these agreements requires continued <br />exploration. <br /> <br />Employers have been more engaged in workforce planning efforts, providing insights into <br />hiring trends, skill gaps, and emerging industry needs. This input has helped refine <br />training priorities and job placement strategies, ensuring that workforce services remain <br />responsive to regional labor demands. Additionally, workforce boards have focused on <br />improving employer outreach, making it easier for businesses to connect with job seekers <br />and access workforce resources. <br /> <br />Although there are still areas for improvement, these efforts have laid the foundation for <br />a more data-driven and industry-aligned workforce system. Continued collaboration with <br />education partners, enhanced employer engagement, and progress in data-sharing <br />initiatives will be key to further strengthening the region’s ability to meet workforce needs. <br /> <br />IV. FOSTERING DEMAND-DRIVEN SKILLS ATTAINMENT <br /> <br />As Orange County evolves, equipping job seekers with the right skills to meet the needs <br />of growing industries is more important than ever. The region’s workforce development <br />strategy is designed to adapt to historical economic trends and respond to emerging labor <br />market shifts by aligning education and training programs with real-time industry <br />demands. To achieve this, workforce boards and education partners must collaborate <br />closely with employers to ensure workers acquire the skills needed for sustainable, well- <br />paying careers while supporting the region’s key economic drivers. <br /> <br />A critical mechanism for aligning workforce training with industry needs is the <br />identification of in-demand industry sectors and occupations. Orange County boasts a <br />strong economic foundation, with industries such as healthcare, technology, <br />manufacturing, and tourism playing central roles in employment and regional growth. <br />However, shifting labor trends, rapid technological advancements, and evolving <br />workforce demands require reevaluating the region’s priorities to ensure continued <br />economic vitality over the next four years. <br /> <br />A. In-Demand Industry Sectors for the Region <br /> <br />The Orange County Center of <br />Excellence (OC COE), through <br />its work on the Orange County <br />Sector Analysis Project, <br />identified eight priority industry <br />sectors based on a <br />comprehensive analysis of labor <br />market data, including job <br />growth projections, wage levels, <br />and alignment with local <br />Sectors Community <br />Colleges <br />Orange <br />RPU <br />Advanced Manufacturing ü ü <br />Advanced Transportation & Logistics ü <br />Life Sciences/Biotech ü <br />Business and Entrepreneurship ü <br />Energy, Construction, and Utilities ü ü <br />Healthcare ü ü <br />ICT/Digital Media ü ü <br />Retail, Hospitality, & Tourism ü ü <br />EXHIBIT 1