2026 South Bay Subregional Profile by ArroyoWest

South Bay Subregional Profile A Labor Market and Community College Analysis

FALL 2026

A report prepared by the Los Angeles Center of Excellence for Labor Market Research

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TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

DEMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS DEMAND AND SUPPLY FINDINGS

FAST FACTS

INTRODUCTION

METHODOLOGY

PART I: SUBREGIONAL POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS

PART II: LABOR MARKET

LABOR MARKET DEMAND EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT CONCENTRATION INDUSTRY OVERVIEW INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATIONS PRIORITY MIDDLE-SKILL OCCUPATIONAL OVERVIEW JOB POSTINGS SUBREGIONAL CTE ANALYSIS

LABOR SUPPLY GAP

UNDER SUPPLY SPECIALIZATION OF SOUTH BAY

PART III: COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROFILES

EL CAMINO COLLEGE L.A. HARBOR COLLEGE

PART IV: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES

SWP OUTCOMES

CONCLUSION & USE CASES FOR THIS REPORT

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

O SUPPORT THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES, THE LOS ANGELES CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (COE)

created six subregional profiles analyzing demographic, labor market, and postsecondary supply data. This subregional profile focuses on the South Bay subregion of Los Angeles County, which comprises 57 ZIP codes. The South Bay subregion includes the following community colleges: El Camino College and Los Angeles Harbor College.

DEMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS • South Bay is home to over 1 million residents, or approximately 11% of the county’s population. South Bay’s population is projected to decrease by 9% over the next 10 years.

• 39% of South Bay residents identify as Hispanic or Latino compared to 48% countywide, and 43% of residents are below the age of 35 compared to 45% across the county.

• Approximately 41% of residents age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher as their highest level of education, compared to 36% across the county, indicating higher levels of educational attainment in the subregion.

• The average median annual household income in South Bay is $110,404, ranking as the second highest among the six Los Angeles subregions.

• These demographic findings suggest that the age distribution in the subregion is mostly similar to the county, but a greater proportion of residents identify as Black and Asian, and have higher levels of educational attainment compared to the county.

DEMAND AND SUPPLY FINDINGS Demand • There are 674,284 jobs in South Bay, which account for 13% of the county’s employment. • There are 81,475 projected annual job openings in South Bay, and middle-skill jobs account for 41% of the annual job openings.

• Industries such as Health Care and Social Assistance and Accommodation and Food Services are projected to grow by 18% and 8%, respectively.

• Key industries that account for a greater share of jobs across the subregion compared to their share across the county include Transportation and Warehousing, as well as Manufacturing.

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Supply • From 2022 to 2025, South Bay community colleges conferred an annual average of 6,805 awards across all programs. When focusing on Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, subregional community colleges conferred an average of 1,627 awards in the last three academic years.

• South Bay offers programs in Machining and Machine Tools (TOP 095630) and Environmental Control Technology (TOP 094600), and the subregion accounts for over one-third of awards across the county.

Labor Gap • Key CTE programs within aviation should be developed or expanded to fulfill the labor market gap. Several occupations in this sector are projected to experience high demand in the subregion, and occupations such as aircraft mechanics and service technicians and aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers have no existing community college program offerings in the subregion.

• Notable sectors include Business & Entrepreneurship, where occupations such as first-line supervisors of office

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and administrative support workers show strong demand. Awards in the subregion account for 5% across the county in this sector, which may represent an opportunity for growth in programs that train for high-demand occupations.

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FAST FACTS Exhibit 1. Comparison of demographic and labor market data by subregion CENTRAL LOS ANGELES

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

GATEWAY CITIES

SAN GABRIEL VALLEY

SOUTH BAY

WESTSIDE CITIES

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

Population

1,534,637

1,876,011

2,012,082

1,853,943

1,080,144

679,369

9,636,025

Households

543,347

561,515

756,996

594,482

396,258

345,453

3,386,057

Median Household Income

$62,295

$88,683

$97,135

$98,696

$110,404

$120,681

$95,562

Per Capita Income

$32,461

$35,307

$51,392

$42,430

$53,460

$91,703

$45,743

5.8%

5.5%

6.2%

5.2%

5.8%

5.7%

763,698

813,288

1,160,074

851,521

674,284

751,899

5,240,592

2025 Unemployment Rate 2025 Jobs 10-Year Projected Job Growth

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NOTE: Subregional totals for population, households, and 2025 jobs do not sum to the county total because Santa Clarita Valley and Antelope Valley are excluded from the amounts.

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INTRODUCTION

O SUPPORT CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES WITH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO UPDATE AND ENHANCE c\

career technical education (CTE) program offerings, the Los Angeles Center of Excellence (COE) created six subregional profiles analyzing demographic, labor market, and postsecondary supply data. Each subregional profile was created to:

• Identify labor market opportunities unique to each subregion

LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUBREGIONS

• Facilitate alignment between labor market needs and CTE training

• CENTRAL LOS ANGELES

• Inform strategic planning efforts and investments by local

• GATEWAY CITIES

community colleges

• Support the annual updating process of the Strong Workforce Program (SWP) Regional Plan

• SAN FERNANDO VALLEY • SAN GABRIEL VALLEY • SOUTH BAY • WESTSIDE CITIES

SWP is an initiative designed to expand CTE programs offered by the California Community Colleges to supply a skilled workforce to California’s employers. The Los Angeles Regional Consortium is charged with coordinating the planning and implementation of CTE programs among the 19 community colleges of Los Angeles County.

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This profile focuses on the South Bay subregion, which encompasses two community colleges: El Camino College and Los Angeles Harbor College (Exhibit 2).

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Exhibit 2. Map of the 19 community colleges in Los Angeles County by subregion

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County of Los Angeles, California State Parks, Esri, TomTom, Garmin, SafeGraph, FAO, METI/NASA, USGS, Bureau of Land Management, EPA, NPS, USFWS

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METHODOLOGY

S ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE COUNTIES IN THE NATION, LOS ANGELES COUNTY

has a sizable impact on key population and economic indicators in California. Its subregions, which encompass 88 cities, vary in their demographic and economic characteristics and uniquely contribute to the region’s overall economic vitality and labor market. To better understand the factors defining the six subregions in Los Angeles County, this report draws on multiple data sources that shed light on important labor market needs and the role of community colleges in training a local workforce equipped to meet those needs. Building on initial work conducted by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation that divides Los Angeles into six distinct geographic regions, this report is organized into four sections. The methodology and data sources in each section are described below.

PART I: SUBREGIONAL POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

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This section describes the population of the county and subregion. This data is largely sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS; 2024, 5-year estimates) and Lightcast (2026.3) by county and ZIP code (Exhibit 3). ZIP-codelevel data has been aggregated to represent the entire subregion. Educational attainment data represents the population of residents age 25 and older, while population characteristics represent households as defined by the ACS. Lightcast utilizes data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau through the ACS and data from the California Employment Development Department. The race/ethnicity terms in this section, including white, Hispanic, and Black, adhere to the terms and definitions the Census Bureau uses in collecting its data. For definitions, please refer to: https://www.census.gov/topics/ population/race/about.html.

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Exhibit 3: ZIP codes and neighborhoods comprising the South Bay subregion POPULATION

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT (PORTION OF POPULATION AGE 25+ WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER)

JOBS

ZIP CODE

CITY

90009

Los Angeles

Insufficient Data

7,424

90045

Los Angeles

41,786

$135,032

63%

75,738

90080

Los Angeles

Insufficient Data

90083

Los Angeles

Insufficient Data

192

90094

Playa Vista

11,764

$145,744

83%

5,889

90245

El Segundo

16,769

$150,737

63%

65,995

90247

Gardena

47,053

$77,333

27%

16,832

90248

Gardena

11,235

$91,176

37%

32,948

90249

Gardena

26,290

$89,712

26%

13,678

90250

Hawthorne

93,826

$78,331

27%

35,740

90251

Hawthorne

Insufficient Data

177

90254

Hermosa Beach

19,063

$166,442

76%

9,770

90260

Lawndale

32,075

$87,825

22%

13,679

90266

Manhattan Beach

34,210

$204,306

79%

18,882

90267

Manhattan Beach

Insufficient Data

430

90274

Palos Verdes Peninsula

25,059

$215,925

76%

16,997

90275

Rancho Palos Verdes

40,945

$179,469

71%

9,396

90277

Redondo Beach

34,844

$127,795

70%

16,421

90278

Redondo Beach

42,423

$160,236

65%

15,219

90293

Playa Del Rey

12,655

$134,313

71%

3,376

90296

Playa Del Rey

Insufficient Data

257

90301

Inglewood

36,060

$65,806

22%

22,177

90302

Inglewood

29,003

$73,777

29%

7,202

90303

Inglewood

22,727

$72,815

17%

8,328

90304

Inglewood

25,430

$64,125

13%

10,198

90305

Inglewood

14,708

$92,665

40%

5,880

90306

Inglewood

Insufficient Data

190

90307

Inglewood

Insufficient Data

90308

Inglewood

Insufficient Data

90309

Inglewood

Insufficient Data

101

90310

Inglewood

Insufficient Data

90312

Inglewood

Insufficient Data

90501

Torrance

41,787

$92,923

40%

31,796

90502

Torrance

18,467

$94,291

38%

12,965

90503

Torrance

43,454

$125,912

56%

28,163

90504

Torrance

33,084

$107,552

45%

9,644

90505

Torrance

35,148

$115,593

59%

35,342

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Exhibit 3: ZIP codes and neighborhoods comprising the South Bay subregion CITY

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT (PORTION OF POPULATION AGE 25+ WITH A BACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHER)

90506

Torrance

Insufficient Data

2,641

90507

Torrance

Insufficient Data

90508

Torrance

Insufficient Data

90509

Torrance

Insufficient Data

90510

Torrance

Insufficient Data

209

90704

Avalon

Insufficient Data

2,357

90710

Harbor City

26,761

$82,478

33%

7,947

90717

Lomita

21,482

$94,241

34%

8,275

90731

San Pedro

61,944

$76,395

27%

24,195

90732

San Pedro

23,067

$120,807

49%

8,472

90733

San Pedro

Insufficient Data

139

90734

San Pedro

Insufficient Data

221

90744

Wilmington

52,800

$60,847

30,759

90745

Carson

57,397

$107,988

28%

18,864

90746

Carson

27,091

$113,364

34%

16,812

90747

Carson

Insufficient Data

4,725

90748

Wilmington

Insufficient Data

90749

Carson

Insufficient Data

106

90810

Long Beach

35,833

$84,350

22%

15,688

90895

Carson

Insufficient Data

101

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POPULATION

JOBS

ZIP CODE

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PART II: LABOR MARKET DEMAND This section describes the subregion’s labor market conditions, including occupational and industry data, as well as job postings, sourced from Lightcast (2026.3). Job posting data is only available at the city level, so the cities listed in Exhibit 3 were queried for a 12-month period, from July 2025 to June 2026.

PART III: COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROFILES This section focuses on the community colleges in the South Bay subregion, providing enrollments, awards (certificates and degrees), student demographics, and selected career education outcomes. Data was sourced from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Management Information Systems (MIS) Data Mart and DataVista. Student enrollments represent the 2024-2025 academic year. Awards represent a three-year average of the 2022-2023, 20232024, and 2024-2025 academic years. Median annual earnings after exit, attained a living wage, and median change in earnings are from 2019-2020 to 2023-2024 academic years. This report presents race and ethnicity data reported by the California Community Colleges from DataVista. The race and ethnic categories in this section, including white, Hispanic, and Black, for example, adhere to the categories and definitions used by the California Community Colleges when collecting this data. For definitions, please refer to: https://webdata.cccco.edu/ded/std/std10.pdf.

PART IV: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES This section describes career education student employment outcomes for each college in the subregion compared to the average across all 19 colleges in Los Angeles County. This data was obtained from DataVista.

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Data Sources: Lightcast; Census Bureau’s American Community Survey; Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS); California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information Division, OES; California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Management Information Systems (MIS); California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office DataVista.

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PART I: SUBREGIONAL POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

NDERSTANDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE SUBREGIONAL POPULATION AND HOW IT’S PROJECTED to change can help community colleges support subregional and regional workforce needs.

The demographic composition of an area can significantly affect demand for educational services. For example, nearly one-third of Los Angeles County’s population is 55 or older, but these trends can vary at the subregional level. These trends are important markers that can impact student enrollment from K12 through postsecondary education. To provide a comprehensive overview of trends related to demographics, the Los Angeles COE included data and findings on whether the subregional population is growing or contracting, and where residents are concentrated, as more densely populated areas may generate greater demand for education and training.

IN THIS SECTION • Population estimates and projects • Population concentration • Population demographics, including age, educational attainment, and race/ethnicity

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS POPULATION SIZE In 2025, the South Bay subregion had a population of nearly 1.1 million residents (Exhibit 4). Over the next 10 years, the population is expected to decrease by more than 93,900 residents, or decline by 9%, while Los Angeles County is projected to decline by 8%. Exhibit 4. Population estimates and projections in the subregion, 2025-2035

2025 POPULATION

2035 POPULATION

CHANGE

% CHANGE

South Bay

1,080,144

986,180

-93,964

-9%

Los Angeles County

9,636,025

8,873,405

-762,620

-8%

California

39,189,106

38,610,471

-578,635

-1%

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POPULATION CONCENTRATION An analysis of ZIP codes shows the highest concentration of residents in the following areas: Hawthorne (90250), San Pedro (90731), and Carson (90745), with more than 56,000 residents in each area. Carson (90747), Playa Vista (90094), and Gardena (90248) contain the lowest concentration of residents. Please see Exhibit 3 for complete list of data by ZIP code.

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Exhibit 5. South Bay population by ZIP code

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HOUSEHOLD INCOME Median household income is highest in Palos Verdes Peninsula (90274), Manhattan Beach (90266), and Rancho Palos Verdes (90275), with an average median household income of $199,900. The ZIP codes with the lowest median household incomes are Wilmington (90744) and Inglewood (90301 and 90304), with an average median household income of $65,593. Please see Exhibit 3 for complete list of data by ZIP code.

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Exhibit 6. South Bay median household income by ZIP code

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AGE The South Bay subregion has a similar proportion of younger residents, compared to Los Angeles County. In 2024, 43% of the subregion’s population was under 35, compared to 45% in the county, while 30% was 55 or older, which is slightly above the county (28%; Exhibit 7). Exhibit 7. Age cohorts in the subregion and county, 2024

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT In the South Bay subregion, 41% of the population aged 25 and older had completed a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024, 26% had completed some college or an associate degree, and 19% had completed high school (Exhibit 8). The percentage of the population with less than a high school diploma is notably lower in the subregion than the county overall, 14% compared to 20%.

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Exhibit 8. Educational attainment in the subregion and county, 2024

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Educational attainment, measured among residents aged 25 and older, is highest in Playa Vista (90094), Manhattan Beach (90266), and Palos Verdes Peninsula (90274), in which more than 76% of the population had a bachelor’s degree or higher. Lower levels of educational attainment were found in Wilmington (90744), Inglewood (90304) and Inglewood (90303; Exhibit 9). Please see Exhibit 3 for complete list of data by ZIP code.

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Exhibit 9. South Bay educational attainment by ZIP code

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RACE/ETHNICITY In 2024, 39% of the subregion’s population identified as Hispanic, followed by 26% white, and 18% Asian (Exhibit 10). Compared to the county overall, South Bay has a higher percentage of Asian and Black residents and a lower percentage of Hispanic residents. Exhibit 10. Race/ethnicity in the subregion and county, 2024

SOUTH BAY POPULATION SUMMARY Overall, the South Bay subregion comprises 11% of the population across the county, and it is projected to decline by 9% over the next 10 years. In terms of age, the distribution is similar to Los Angeles County, although the South Bay has a slightly larger proportion of residents age 55 and older. Additionally, educational attainment was higher in the subregion than the county, with a greater proportion of residents 25 and older having completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. These patterns provide context for colleges as they consider access, outreach, and workforce training needs across the subregion.

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PART II: LABOR MARKET

HIS SECTION EXAMINES GAPS IN THE SOUTH BAY SUBREGIONAL LABOR MARKET BY SHOWING INDUSTRY and occupational demand, followed by educational supply within the subregion.

LABOR MARKET DEMAND This section can inform discussions about cross-industry collaborations, occupational employment opportunities for students, partnerships between educators and employers, and new or overlooked areas for training and education programs. This section examines employment size and concentration, as well as the subregion’s largest industries. Additionally, understanding which occupations are in demand now, and in the future, and what they pay, is critical for community college planning, career pathway development, and targeted employer partnerships.

IN THIS SECTION • Employment size and concentration • Top industries • Priority middle-skill occupations • Job posting data

The Los Angeles COE identified middle-skill occupations, jobs typically requiring education or training beyond a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree, that offer promising career opportunities to students in the subregion. These occupations fall within the sectors designated by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office that are critical to the economic vitality of the county. Further illuminating the nuances within a subregion’s labor market, job posting data can indicate employer hiring preferences for specific jobs and skill sets. Although this data can offer valuable insights into evolving employer needs, it should not be considered a direct measure of employer demand. Job postings may be over- or under-inflated for a variety of reasons, such as an employer posting more than one job ad for the same position, using one job posting for multiple openings or for year-round recruitment, or including misleading ads that do not represent actual available positions. Since employer hiring needs can vary by subregion, job posting analysis can be useful for highlighting unique local employment trends. Occupational titles and employers commonly occurring in job postings specific to the subregion have been identified.

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EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT SIZE Between 2025 and 2035, the number of jobs in South Bay is projected to increase from 674,284 to 700,612, which is an increase of 26,328 jobs, or 4%. Similarly, Los Angeles County is projected to grow by 4%, or 189,956 jobs. While the projected rate of growth in the subregion is similar to the county, both are below the 7% projected job growth across California. Exhibit 11. Number of jobs and projected percentage change, 2025-2035

2025 JOBS

2025 - 2035 CHANGE

PROJECTED % CHANGE

674,284

700,612

26,328

Los Angeles County

5,240,592

5,430,548

189,956

California

20,700,773

22,076,875

1,376,102

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South Bay

2035 JOBS

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EMPLOYMENT CONCENTRATION The greatest concentration of jobs was in Los Angeles (90045) and El Segundo (90245), with more than 65,000 jobs in each ZIP code. Of these, El Segundo (90245) is projected to grow the most, by 5% in the next 10 years. Interestingly, some ZIP codes have relatively few jobs, likely due to the geographic size of the ZIP code. The areas with the lowest job count include Inglewood (90307, 90308, and 90312). Please see Exhibit 3 for complete list of data by ZIP code.

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Exhibit 12. South Bay concentration of jobs by ZIP code

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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW In 2025, Los Angeles County had more than 5.2 million jobs, and the South Bay subregion accounted for 674,284, or approximately 13% of jobs in the county. The industries projected to add the most jobs over the next 10 years are shown in Exhibit 13. Exhibit 13. Industry sector projected to add the most jobs in the subregion, 2025-2035

PROJECTED % CHANGE

Health Care and Social Assistance

16,057

18%

Government

10,713

14%

Accommodation and Food Services

5,069

Transportation and Warehousing

4,066

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

2,853

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2025 – 2035 CHANGE IN JOBS

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The composition of industry employment in the subregion differs from Los Angeles County in several ways. The subregion had a larger share of jobs than Los Angeles County in the following industry sectors (Exhibit 14):

• Transportation and Warehousing • Manufacturing • Admin & Support & Waste Mgmt & Remediation Services

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Exhibit 14. Industry sector employment in the subregion and county, 2025

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INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATIONS Based on projected growth and the size of industry employment in the South Bay, the LA COE recommends that community colleges highlight the following industries:

• Health Care and Social Assistance • Transportation and Warehousing • Manufacturing

PRIORITY MIDDLE-SKILL OCCUPATIONAL OVERVIEW Based on the Los Angeles COE’s Priority Jobs methodology and key indicators1, the criteria used to classify priority middle-skill occupations include:

• Middle-Skill—as defined by the LA COE, which typically require more than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor’s degree;

• Projected Demand—10-year projected demand of at least 50 average annual job openings in the subregion, 2025-2035;

• Wages—entry-level wages at or above the MIT living wage in Los Angeles, $28.92 per hour; and • Experience—fewer than five years of experience required at entry. The following analysis identifies promising occupations for students that are in demand and well paid in the subregion (Exhibit 15). For a more extensive list of middle-skill, in-demand occupations, or middle-skill occupations that pay a strong median wage, please contact the Los Angeles COE.

https://coeccc.net/los-angeles/2025/01/equity-in-priority-jobs-and-programs-los-angeles-region/

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Exhibit 15. Top 20 priority middle-skill occupations in the subregion

AVG. ANNUAL OPENINGS

2025 JOBS

10-YEAR % CHANGE

25TH PCT. ANNUAL EARNINGS

2025 EMP. CONCENT.*

First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers

547

5,691

$62,155

0.98

Registered Nurses

538

8,911

$111,080

0.67

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

272

3,019

$66,094

3.55

Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

262

2,700

11%

$72,120

1.04

Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers

241

2,428

17%

$99,609

0.87

Buyers and Purchasing Agents

212

2,249

$63,661

1.14

Paralegals and Legal Assistants

190

1,415

14%

$61,044

0.90

Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants

187

1,770

$68,289

0.94

Logisticians

179

1,793

$63,996

1.63

First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

178

1,984

$73,287

0.80

Computer Occupations, All Other

127

2,106

$68,734

1.10

Computer User Support Specialists

120

1,997

-8%

$60,749

0.68

Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines

981

$65,635

1.36

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

630

10%

$74,925

3.10

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers

731

-9%

$61,069

5.23

Producers and Directors

1,230

-33%

$72,525

1.79

Firefighters

712

20%

$79,122

0.52

Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators

784

$61,698

0.40

Commercial Pilots

508

11%

$97,274

1.91

Correctional Officers and Jailers

598

11%

$76,795

0.40

OCCUPATION

*Employment Concentration is a measure of how concentrated a characteristic of a particular region is compared to the nation. Values greater than 1 indicated a higher concentration in the subregion compared to the nation.

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Despite modest employment growth projections over the last few years (i.e., two years ago the average 10-year occupational growth rate in Los Angeles County was 10%, and it is now below 4%), it is worth noting that a few of the identified priority middle-skill occupations are projected to decline over the next 10 years (Exhibit 15). Specifically, projected decline is most pronounced among producers and directors; aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers; and computer user support specialists. Therefore, Exhibit 16 provides additional middle-skill occupations that meet the MIT living wage threshold, are projected to grow over the next 10 years, but only fall short of the projected annual openings threshold of 50. These include occupations with notable growth, such as first-line supervisors of police and detectives and dental hygienists. Exhibit 16. Additional priority middle-skill occupations in the subregion

AVG. ANNUAL OPENINGS

2025 JOBS

10-YEAR % CHANGE

25TH PCT. ANNUAL EARNINGS

2025 EMP. CONCENT.*

Dental Hygienists

563

16%

$100,985

0.64

Transportation Security Screeners

403

$71,951

1.81

First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives

483

18%

$160,969

0.75

Respiratory Therapists

560

$85,100

1.03

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other

241

$66,754

0.73

Radiologic Technologists and Technicians

509

$86,522

0.56

OCCUPATION

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*Employment Concentration

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JOB POSTINGS During the 12-month period from July 2025 to June 2026, there were 20,360 unique job postings in the South Bay subregion, which accounted for 11% of Los Angeles County’s 184,392 unique job postings. To focus specifically on job postings for which community college students and graduates would qualify, job postings were filtered by those that listed a high school diploma or GED, or an associate degree, as the minimum educational requirement. Therefore, this section excludes all job postings that require a bachelor's degree or higher. Exhibit 17 shows that among the top 10 occupations listed in job postings, security guards, retail salespersons, and home health and personal care aides collectively account for over 2,200 postings.

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Exhibit 17: Top occupations in job postings

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Three of the top 10 employers in job postings across the South Bay subregion align with the top employers in Los Angeles County (Exhibit 18). Most of the top employers are in Health and Advanced Manufacturing.

Exhibit 18. Top employers in job postings for the subregion and county

LOS ANGELES COUNTY EMPLOYERS

Allied Universal

SpaceX

Cedars-Sinai

Northrop Grumman

CVS Health

Kaiser Permanente

Providence

Edjoin.Org

Boeing

University of Southern California

Prime Healthcare Services

Marriott International

Howmet Aerospace

Panda Express

Spectrum

Keck Medical Center of USC

Kaiser Permanente

Redwood Family Care Network

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SOUTH BAY EMPLOYERS

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SUBREGIONAL CTE ANALYSIS The following section focuses on community college awards by sector for CTE programs. Community colleges in the South Bay subregion confer the greatest share of county awards in Energy, Construction and Utilities (6%) and Public Safety (7%; Exhibit 19). Exhibit 19. CTE awards issued by sector in the subregion and county

SOUTH BAY LATEST 3-YR AVG

LA COUNTY LATEST 3-YR AVG

SUBREGION SHARE OF COUNTY AWARDS

Advanced Manufacturing

2,027

Advanced Transportation and Logistics

1,723

Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies

392

Business and Entrepreneurship

569

10,644

Education and Human Development

228

4,434

Energy, Construction and Utilities

114

1,621

Health

149

4,954

Information and Communication Technologies Digital Media

128

4,340

Life Sciences - Biotechnology

156

Public Safety

182

3,169

Retail, Hospitality and Tourism

1,567

Unassigned

1,087

1,627

36,191

SECTOR

Global Trade

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Total

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Exhibit 20 highlights selected CTE programs in which the subregion accounts for a notable share of county awards. For example, South Bay community colleges confer more than one-third of the county’s awards in Machining and Machine Tools (TOP 095630) and Environmental Control Technology (TOP 094600). Exhibit 20. Awards issued by sector in the subregion

SOUTH BAY LATEST 3-YR AVG

SUBREGION SHARE OF COUNTY AWARDS

Advanced Manufacturing

39%

094600 - Environmental Control Technology (HVAC)

Energy, Construction, and Utilities

34%

130630 - Culinary Arts

Retail, Hospitality and Tourism

12%

060420 - Television (including combined TV/ film/video)

ICT - Digital Media

12%

123010 - Registered Nursing

Health

121

11%

213300 - Fire Technology

Public Safety

10%

140200 - Paralegal

Unassigned

050500 - Business Administration

Business & Entrepreneurship

335

210500 - Administration of Justice

Public Safety

111

051100 - Real Estate

Business & Entrepreneurship

130500 - Child Development/Early Care and Education

Education and Human Development

204

050200 - Accounting

Business and Entrepreneurship

094800 - Automotive Technology

Advanced Transportation and Logistics

300700 - Cosmetology and Barbering

Business and Entrepreneurship

050600 - Business Management

Business and Entrepreneurship

TOP6 - PROGRAM TITLE

SECTOR

095630 - Machining and Machine Tools

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LABOR SUPPLY GAP

ASED ON OUR STUDY OF LABOR DEMAND, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL PRIORITY OCCUPATIONS

for the South Bay subregion, where labor supply gaps exist. The analysis reveals an undersupply of trained workers across key fields, each characterized by a high number of projected annual openings and competitive entrylevel wages, yet hindered by insufficient awards conferred to meet employer demand.

UNDER SUPPLY First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers represent one of the largest middle-skill employment opportunities in South Bay, with 547 average annual openings and 5,691 jobs in 2025. Employment is projected to remain relatively stable over the next 10 years, and the occupation offers entry-level annual earnings of $62,155. Similarly, executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants was identified as a priority middleskill occupation, with 187 average annual job openings and 1,770 jobs in 2025. Employment is also projected to remain stable, while entry-level earnings are $68,289. In terms of supply, Business Management (TOP 050600) and Business Administration (TOP 050500) are the only programs aligned with training for these occupations, which collectively conferred an average of 373 awards over the last three academic years, suggesting a potential opportunity to expand programs that train for this occupation. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians also represent a particularly strong opportunity in South Bay, with 272 average annual openings and employment projected to grow 9% over the next 10 years. The occupation earn entry-level annual earnings of $66,094, and has a high employment concentration of 3.55, meaning it is more than three times as concentrated in South Bay as it is nationally. Currently, no aviation-focused community college programs in the subregion train for this occupation, suggesting an important opportunity for aviation and aerospace workforce needs. Another aviation-focused priority middle-skill occupation includes aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers, with 79 average annual openings and 731 jobs in 2025. Although employment is projected to decline by 9% over the next 10 years, the occupation has a notably high employment concentration of 5.23, meaning it is more than five times as concentrated in South Bay as it is nationally. Workers earn entry-level annual earnings of $61,069, further supporting the subregion’s specialization in aviation-related roles and potential opportunity to expand community college programs.

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SPECIALIZATION OF SOUTH BAY

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Overall, South Bay shows strong workforce opportunities across several high-demand, middle-skill occupations. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians have high employment concentration in the subregion, projected growth, and no community college programs exist in the subregion, while aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblers also reflect the region’s specialization in aviation and aerospace. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants also offer substantial annual openings and competitive entry-level wages, with employment expected to remain relatively stable over the next 10 years.

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PART III: COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROFILES

OMMUNITY COLLEGES PLAY AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN TRAINING STUDENTS FOR MIDDLE-SKILL JOBS.

By examining student enrollment, awards conferred (degrees and certificates), and SWP metrics related to student outcomes, programs can be tailored to have the greatest positive impact. The Los Angeles COE has analyzed CTE programs for each community college in the subregion to identify programs that are performing most effectively in terms of advancing the median annual earnings of students after exiting a program, students who are able to attain a living wage after completing a program, and students who obtain a positive median change in earnings after completing a program.

IN THIS SECTION • Enrollment size and number of awards • CTE programs with strong SWP outcomes

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Examining patterns in student demographics, such as race/ethnicity • Student demographics, including and gender, can help community colleges advance equity and improve race/ethnicity, gender, and age academic outcomes for underrepresented students. Additionally, examining the age breakdown of students can show where students may fall in terms of seeking education to further their lifelong careers. If a community college has a significant percentage of students above the age of 25, this could indicate incumbent workers may be seeking to re-train or upskill to access opportunities for career advancement.

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EL CAMINO COLLEGE STUDENT ENROLLMENT (2024-25)

3-YEAR AVERAGE AWARDS (2022-23 TO 2024-25)

34,971

603,765

3,881

96,923

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

LOS ANGELES REGION

EL CAMINO COLLEGE

LOS ANGELES REGION

SWP OUTCOMES FOR CTE PROGRAMS

RACE/ETHNICITY

MEDIAN ANNUAL EARNINGS AFTER EXIT Paramedic

$166,150

Mill and Cabinet Work

$97,280

Fire Academy

$65,960

ATTAINED A LIVING WAGE Paramedic

84%

Mill and Cabinet Work

74%

Drafting Technology

70%

MEDIAN CHANGE IN EARNINGS Journalism

98%

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

95%

Computer Programming

84%

GENDER Female

Male

Non-binary

Unknown

El Camino College

51%

45%

L.A. Region

54%

43%

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AGE

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L.A. HARBOR COLLEGE STUDENT ENROLLMENT (2024-25)

3-YEAR AVERAGE AWARDS (2022-23 TO 2024-25)

18,390

603,765

2,924

96,923

L.A. HARBOR COLLEGE

LOS ANGELES REGION

L.A. HARBOR COLLEGE

LOS ANGELES REGION

SWP OUTCOMES FOR CTE PROGRAMS

RACE/ETHNICITY

MEDIAN ANNUAL EARNINGS AFTER EXIT Registered Nursing

$66,120

Office Technology/Office Computer Applications

$62,760

Architecture and Architectural Technology

$50,208

ATTAINED A LIVING WAGE Registered Nursing

62%

Architecture and Architectural Technology

49%

Accounting

49%

MEDIAN CHANGE IN EARNINGS Registered Nursing

94%

Nutrition, Foods, and Culinary Arts

63%

Accounting

33%

GENDER Female

Male

Non-binary

Unknown

L.A. Harbor College

60%

38%

L.A. Region

54%

43%

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AGE

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PART IV: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES

HROUGH DATAVISTA, THE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES CHANCELLOR’S OFFICE COLLECTS DATA

related to Strong Workforce Program (SWP) metrics which are used to track student progress, credential attainment, and employment outcomes. These metrics can be applied to measuring the progress of community colleges toward meeting regional SWP goals.

The SWP metrics included in this section are:

• Post course wages based on job similarity to program—The average wages of students whose job is either very close, close, or not close to their program of study.

• Attained a living wage—Among SWP students who exited a community college and did not transfer to any postsecondary institution, this is the proportion who attained the district county living wage for a single adult measured immediately following academic year of exit.

IN THIS SECTION • SWP metrics for individual community colleges in the subregion compared to the overall region: attained a living wage, median annual earnings, median change in earnings, attained a job closely related to field of study

• Median annual earnings—Among SWP students who exited the community college system and who did not transfer to any postsecondary institution, these represent median earnings following the academic year of exit.

• Median change in earnings—Among SWP students who exited and who did not transfer to any postsecondary institution, median change in earnings are calculated between the second quarter prior to the beginning of the academic year of entry (for the first time ever as a non-Special Admit or return to any community college after an absence of one or more academic years) and the second quarter after the end of the academic year of exit from the last college attended.

• Attained a job closely related to field of study—Among students who responded to the CTE Outcomes Survey and did not transfer to any postsecondary institution, this is the proportion who reported that they are working in a job very closely or closely related to their field of study. Students exiting California Community College career technical education programs are invited to participate in the Career Technical Education Outcomes Survey (CTEOS). Administered by Santa Rosa Junior College to all 116 community colleges in the state, exiting students are asked to report if they are working in a job closely related to their field of study as well as their wages before and after studying in their program. The results below demonstrate that students who report working in a job that is ‘very close’ to their field of study earn stronger wages on average when compared to those who only report ‘close,’ and much stronger wages to those who are not working in a job related to their field of study.

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Response rates for the CTEOS instrument are often low, so compiling five years of data in Exhibit 21 below demonstrates that this is a stable trend, despite that shortcoming. This is welcome news and shows that students actively using what they learned in community college enjoy the added benefit of higher hourly wages. Across all years, average wages were highest among respondents working in jobs very closely related to their field of study, though the size of the wage advantage varied by year. From 2021 to 2025, this group earned an average of $9.63 more per hour than those in jobs not close to their field and $7.03 more than those in close jobs. The wage gap was smallest in 2023, while average wages for the very close group were highest in 2022 at $38.46.

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Exhibit 21. Wages by job similarity – from CTEOS

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SWP OUTCOMES Overall, the SWP metrics show similar trends between the South Bay subregion and the L.A. region (Exhibits 22 to 25). Community colleges can use these metrics to understand how they compare to other colleges in the subregion and to regional averages.

• On average, 34% of students from South Bay community colleges attained a living wage from 2019 to 2024, compared with 37% of students in the L.A. region.

• The median change in earnings from 2019 to 2024 averaged 29% in the subregion, compared with 28% across the region.

• Average median annual earnings for South Bay graduates from 2019 to 2024 were $38,727, which is below the L.A. region ($40,763).

• On average, 72% of students from 2019 to 2023 obtained a job closely related to their field of study, which mirrors the L.A. region (72%).

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Exhibit 22. Comparison of students who attained a living wage by college and Los Angeles regional average

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Exhibit 23. Comparison of median change in earnings by colleges and the Los Angeles regional average

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Exhibit 24. Comparison of median annual earnings by college and Los Angeles regional average

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Exhibit 25. Comparison of students who report working a job closely related to their field of study by college and Los Angeles regional average

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CONCLUSION & USE CASES FOR THIS REPORT

HIS ANALYSIS OF THE SOUTH BAY SUBREGION PROVIDES AMPLE DATA THAT CAN BE HARNESSED BY COMMUNITY

college leaders for a multitude of purposes. Whether an institution is going through the accreditation process, program review process, or simply looking for marketing materials, the LA COE recommends the following use cases for this report:

• Grant Application (Annual SWP Regional Projects and other local, state, or federal grants) • Part I: Subregional Population Characteristics provides an overview of the communities served, which help inform the ‘demonstrated need’ portion of most grant applications. Additionally, the demographic summary provides a brief overview that can be supplemented by specific data points in preceding sections. Finally, the Executive Summary also provides several bullet points that can be used to strengthen grant applications.

• CTE Program Investment Guidance • Part II: Labor Market includes a section on labor supply gap, which provides the most concise, salient opportunities for community colleges in the subregion. Other sections to cite or consider for this purpose include: Industry Recommendation, Priority Middle-Skill Occupational Overview, and the Subregional CTE Analysis.

• Employer Engagement • Part II: Labor Market includes a Job Posting section which lists the top employers actively seeking talent within the subregion and county. The top posted occupations are also included to evaluate the most sought after roles.

• Marketing and Outreach • Part III: Community College Profiles provide a list of the top-performing CTE programs at each community college, which can be used to attract and recruit prospective students in promising fields. More broadly, the Community College Student Employment Outcomes section also highlights a variety of student outcomes demonstrating the impact of a community college education.

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While there are certainly use cases beyond those cited above, the aforementioned four items represent the most typically sought after items. If your institution has a different use case in mind, please reach out to the LA COE.

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LOSANGELESRC.ORG If for any reason this document is not accessible or if you have specific needs for readability, please contact us and we will do our utmost to accommodate you with a modified version. Contact: Luke Meyer, Director | Los Angeles Center of Excellence | Lmeyer7@mtsac.edu

Important Disclaimer: All representations included in this report have been produced from primary research and/or secondary review of publicly and/or privately available data and/or research reports. Efforts have been made to qualify and validate the accuracy of the data and the reported findings; however, neither the Centers of Excellence, COE host district, nor California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office are responsible for applications or decisions made by recipient community colleges or their representatives based upon components or recommendations contained in this study. © 2026 California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, Centers of Excellence for Labor Market Research, Economic and Workforce Development Program