Los Angeles Chamber Launches Employer-Led Workforce Initiative to Tackle Critical Talent Gaps

by Jeremy Oberstein

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce today announced the launch of A Paradigm Shift, the largest ever employer-led workforce initiative designed to connect Angelenos directly to high-demand careers and help meet the region's evolving workforce needs.

As Los Angeles' economy continues to change, employers across key sectors are struggling to fill essential roles. A Paradigm Shift, an initiative of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and The CEO Council, brings together leading healthcare providers, educators, and workforce partners to better align training with real workforce demand, creating faster and more effective pathways into quality jobs. The initiative is supported by The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

"This initiative is about unlocking opportunity for Angelenos and aligning our workforce with the demands of a high growth sector," said Maria S. Salinas, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "By forging stronger partnerships between employers and educators, we're not just preparing for quality jobs, more importantly, we are creating clear, intentional pathways to high-quality careers and ensuring Los Angeles remains competitive, resilient, and built for long-term growth."

The initiative represents a new model for workforce development, with employers helping to defi ne the skills and training needed for in-demand roles. Healthcare partners including Cedars-Sinai, AltaMed, Adventist Health White Memorial, Kaiser Permanente and Children's Hospital Los Angeles are working alongside the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) to design programs that prepare participants for immediate entry into the workforce.

At the center of the initiative is a partnership with LACCD, creating a direct bridge between education and employment. Through short-term, targeted training programs - many lasting between six months and one year - participants will gain the skills needed to enter high-demand healthcare roles such as nursing assistants, surgical technologists and imaging specialists.

"Community colleges are uniquely positioned to serve as engines of opportunity," said Dr. Alberto Román, Chancellor of the Los Angeles Community College District. "This partnership strengthens our ability to connect students with meaningful careers while meeting the workforce needs of our region."

The program is designed to expand economic mobility for Angelenos by lowering barriers to entry and creating clear, credible pathways into family-supporting careers. It also addresses a longstanding challenge in workforce development: the disconnect between education and employment.

"Employers know best what skills are needed in today's economy," said Raul A. Anaya, President of Bank of America - Greater Los Angeles and Chair of the Workforce Development Committee of The CEO Council. "By working directly with educators, we can help ensure that training programs lead to real opportunities and long-term careers."

Healthcare is the initial focus of the initiative due to urgent workforce demand, but the model is designed to expand into additional industries over time. Leaders say the approach could serve as a blueprint for how Los Angeles prepares its workforce for the future.

Philanthropic leaders praised the collaboration between businesses and educational communities.

"For too many Angelenos, the route from school to a good job is still fragmented, uncertain or out of reach. This effort will align employer needs with student ambition to create clearer, faster pathways into careers with room to grow," said Porsha Cropper, Ph.D., Senior Program Offi cer of The Broad Foundation. "Bringing the business community and our community colleges together to design solutions and break down barriers for students is exactly the collaboration we need to unlock economic mobility for more Angelenos."

In addition to supporting job seekers, the initiative creates a more predictable pipeline of trained workers for employers, helping strengthen the region's economic resilience at a time when workforce gaps continue to slow growth.

"Now more than ever, it is critical that we build a strong and sustainable pipeline of healthcare professionals who are prepared to meet the evolving needs and expectations of our patients from day one," said Michelle Gaskill-Hames, Regional President, Kaiser Permanente of Southern California & Hawaii. "That means training a workforce that is not only clinically skilled, but also compassionate, empathetic, and deeply patient-centered. As demand for care continues to grow, partnerships like this are essential to strengthening our workforce in ways that expand access, improve the care experience, and refl ect the communities we serve."
For providers like AltaMed, the stakes go beyond workforce gaps.

"At AltaMed, we see every day how access to opportunity shapes health outcomes. Creating clear, intentional pathways into healthcare careers not only strengthens our workforce, it opens doors for the communities we serve to build lasting economic stability," said Zoila D. Escobar, MBA, EdD, President of the AltaMed Foundation and Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer of AltaMed Health Services.

The program is supported by research from McKinsey & Company and CareerWise. This announcement represents the fi rst phase of the program, including fi nalizing program design, recruiting participants and preparing the fi rst cohort for training and placement into workforce pipelines. The Chamber and its partners will track results and adjust as the program grows.
About the LA Area Chamber of Commerce

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of the business community with a broad spectrum of members focused on job creation and innovation, and includes private, non-profit, academic, and public agencies. As a regional chamber, we represent the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside to advance opportunities and solutions for a thriving regional economy that is inclusive and globally competitive.

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