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New Report Highlights Strategies
for Achieving Shared Prosperity
in Contra Costa County
A new report examines the impacts of COVID-19 on Contra Costa County and recommends strategies for expanding economic opportunity.

Shared Prosperity Report: Contra Costa County summarizes the work of the Equitable Economic Recovery Task Force, a collaboration of the WDBCCC, Contra Costa Economic Partnership and Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department, with assistance from Kaiser Permanente.
Managing Stress and Burnout at Work: An In-Person, No-Cost Presentation
Stressed worker
Job-related stress and burnout are impacting employees and employers more than ever. Join us at our offices in Concord on Tuesday, April 12, from 9-11 a.m. for a no-cost presentation where you'll learn how to:
  • Identify stress causes
  • Identify stress types – good or bad
  • Recognize the consequences of stress
  • Recognize the warning signs of burnout
  • Cope with and manage stress

We are proud to partner with the California Employers Association to offer this helpful resource. Go to the "Upcoming Events" section of this newsletter for more impactful events.
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As an organization focused on our regional workforce, the WDBCCC is delving into "The Great Resignation," the national phenomenon of workers leaving their jobs in record numbers. In January we launched the Contra Costa County Employer Survey to understand this problem's local impacts and how we can help. Read about our initial survey results in our most recent blog post.
On March 31, the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County participated in the first San Ramon Business Expo and Mixer since the pandemic hit the U.S. two years ago. We hosted a booth at the event, which is a great place to discover local businesses and network.

Pictured at the event at right are WDB Business Services team members Charles Brown III, Business Services Representative; Patience Ofodu, Business Services Manager; Tamia Brown, Executive Director; and Patricia Conley, Business Services Representative.
Second Chance Month is a nationwide initiative that recognizes the importance of justice-involved individuals to experience a safe and successful reentry into society. Throughout April the National Reentry Resource Center offers resources, videos, podcasts, live learning events and webinars for agencies that support the justice field. You can follow the national conversation about Second Chance Month on social media at #ReentryMatters, #SecondChanceMonth22 and #YouthReentry22.

The WDBCCC supports local reentry efforts as a partner in the regional Prison to Employment (P2E) initiative. Our past efforts include the Contra Costa County Fair Chance Summit in partnership with the Contra Costa Employment and Human Services Department.
Monika Kanetkar worked in a cash office at Target, getting only a few hours per week. She was not satisfied with the work.

Through a program funded by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), she enrolled in a medical assistant program and earned a stable, well-paying job. However, Monika isn't done learning or achieving.
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Did you know the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) Student Services offers activities that support select students age 16-21 as they explore and prepare for the world of work? Students can choose the activities that most interest them.
Richard Johnson headshot
Richard Johnson oversees employment services provided through the California Employment Development Department's (EDD) Workforce Services Branch. He joined the WDBCCC board in 2016 and currently serves on the Business and Economic Development Committee.

He is passionate about promoting the quality EDD services provided to employers and job seekers, and about the EDD's collaboration with its partners and the business community to have a combined broader impact on the employer and jobseeker communities.
health care workers
Contra Costa County government offers a wide range of career opportunities, including these featured open positions:


Click on the links for more information and to apply. To explore more jobs, visit the Contra Costa County Career Pages.
Upcoming Events
WDBCCC Webinars
Jobseekers: Join our April webinars to get ready to land your next job! We focus on career planning and other WIOA services, resume writing and using CalJOBS for your job search. Go to our Events Calendar for more info.
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Planning Your Business
April 14, 2022, 10 a.m.
Business owners: Learn how to create a business plan that meets your needs in this interactive webinar hosted by the Norcal Small Business Development Center.
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Race in America: Advancing Black and Latino Economic Mobility
April 26, 2022, 12 to 1 p.m.
The 2022 East Bay Leadership Series features Ammanuel Zegeye, Michael Chui and Ana Paula Calvo of McKinsey & Company as they discuss the latest research on advancing Black and Latino economic mobility. Learn how policy choices and employer actions can unleash a more dynamic future and build a more equitable economy.
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AMBayArea Summit 2022
April 26, 2022, 1 to 7 p.m.
Manufacturing leaders: Bring your teams to reconnect with peers, learn from industry experts and make new connections.
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Avoiding the Legal Traps of Managing a Remote Workforce
April 28, 2022, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Managers: The Contra Costa County Employer Advisory Council offers a virtual workshop with experts who will help sort through the legal challenges of managing a remote workforce.
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The latest labor market information released by the state reports that Contra Costa County's unemployment rate was 4.1% in February. This compares to 4.8% in California and 4.1% in the nation during the same period.

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