Westside Cities 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
3
DEMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS DEMAND AND SUPPLY FINDINGS
FAST FACTS
5
INTRODUCTION
6
METHODOLOGY
8
PART I: SUBREGIONAL POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
11
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
PART II: LABOR MARKET
17
LABOR MARKET DEMAND EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT CONCENTRATION INDUSTRY OVERVIEW INDUSTRY RECOMMENDATIONS PRIORITY MIDDLE-SKILL OCCUPATIONAL OVERVIEW JOB POSTINGS SUBREGIONAL CTE ANALYSIS
LABOR SUPPLY GAP
29
UNDER SUPPLY SPECIALIZATION OF WESTSIDE CITIES
PART III: COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROFILES
30
SANTA MONICA COLLEGE WEST L.A. COLLEGE
PART IV: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
33
SWP OUTCOMES
CONCLUSION & USE CASES FOR THIS REPORT
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
T
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 Westside Cities subregion of Los Angeles County, which comprises 43 ZIP codes. The Westside Cities subregion includes the following community colleges: Santa Monica College and West L.A. College.
DEMOGRAPHIC FINDINGS • Westside Cities is home to 679,369 residents, or approximately 7% of the county’s population. Westside Cities’ population is projected to decrease by 9% over the next 10 years.
• 58% of Westside Cities residents identify as white compared to 25% across the county, and 44% of residents are below the age of 35 compared to 45% across the county.
• Approximately 69% of residents age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 36% across the county, indicating higher levels of educational attainment in the subregion.
• The average median annual household income in Westside Cities is $120,681, ranking as the 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 White, have higher levels of educational attainment compared to the county, and have the highest median annual household income across the six subregions.
DEMAND AND SUPPLY FINDINGS Demand • There are 751,899 jobs in Westside Cities, which account for 14% of the county’s employment. • There are 88,091 projected annual job openings in Westside Cities, and middle-skill jobs account for 38% of the annual job openings.
• Industries such as Health Care and Social Assistance and Accommodation and Food Services are projected to grow by 15% and 8%, respectively.
• Key industries that account for a greater share of jobs across the subregion compared to their share across the county include Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Information; and Accommodation and Food Services.
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Supply • From 2022 to 2025, Westside Cities community colleges conferred an annual average of 15,456 awards across all programs. When focusing on Career Technical Education (CTE) programs, subregional community colleges conferred an average of 4,184 awards in the last three academic years.
• Westside Cities offers programs concentrated in Health, such as Dental Hygienist (TOP 124020) and Dental Assistant (TOP 124010), in which the subregion accounts for approximately 60% of awards across the county. The subregion also accounts for 81% of awards in Educational Aide (Teacher Assistant; TOP 080200), representing another area of specialization within the subregion.
Labor Gap • There are numerous CTE programs that could be expanded to fulfill the labor market gap. Paralegals and legal assistants show 780 average annual job openings in Westside Cities, and have an employment concentration three times the national average. Although community college programs exist under Paralegal (TOP 140200) in the subregion, only an average of 72 awards were conferred.
• Several occupations in health, including respiratory therapists, also show strong demand. This occupation is projected to have 59 annual job openings, and one program in the subregion conferred an average of 12 awards in Respiratory Care/Therapy (TOP 121000) in the last three academic years.
• Other notable sectors include Life Sciences-Biotechnology, where occupations such as life, physical, and social
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science technicians show strong demand. Awards in the subregion only account for 5% of county awards in this sector, which may represent an opportunity for growth in programs that train for occupations in this sector.
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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%
5.2%
5.8%
5.7%
763,698
813,288
1,160,074
851,521
674,284
751,899
5,240,592
3%
3%
5%
3%
4%
3%
4%
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
T
O SUPPORT CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES WITH COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS TO UPDATE AND ENHANCE
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 Westside Cities subregion, which encompasses two community colleges: Santa Monica College and West Los Angeles 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
A
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 cities comprising the Westside Cities subregion ZIP CODE
CITY
POPULATION
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
PORTION OF POPULATION AGE 25+ WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR HIGHER
JOBS
90024
Los Angeles
51,675
$76,583
74%
32,224
90025 90034 90035 90036 90046 90048 90049 90064 90066 90067 90069 90073 90077 90095 90209 90210 90211 90212 90213 90230 90231 90232 90263
Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles West Hollywood Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Beverly Hills Beverly Hills Beverly Hills Beverly Hills Beverly Hills Culver City Culver City Culver City Malibu
46,508 57,075 29,000 39,278 48,296 21,476 37,122 26,642 56,740 3,875 20,961 1,079 8,386 Insufficient Data Insufficient Data 19,004 9,120 10,728 Insufficient Data 31,009 Insufficient Data 16,554 1,856
$103,894 $105,701 $105,013 $109,785 $96,250 $103,495 $170,607 $135,383 $114,141 $195,433 $107,987 Insufficient Data $206,319 Insufficient Data Insufficient Data $187,801 $122,694 $118,019 Insufficient Data $107,109 Insufficient Data $122,396 Insufficient Data
71% 64% 69% 69% 65% 69% 80% 70% 62% 77% 71% 15% 78% Insufficient Data Insufficient Data 68% 66% 77% Insufficient Data 58% Insufficient Data 62% 100%
43,334 23,356 18,353 38,321 32,021 41,920 22,270 38,001 28,659 58,111 23,148 3,796 3,835 58,057 216 25,396 15,815 20,752 112 32,738 22 27,520 2,209
90264 90265 90272 90290
Malibu Malibu Pacific Palisades Topanga
Insufficient Data 15,918 21,390 6,315
Insufficient Data $196,742 $189,713 $149,304
Insufficient Data 69% 78% 66%
368 11,058 6,728 2,556
90291
Venice
26,324
$122,738
71%
17,676
90292
Marina Del Rey
23,982
$146,167
72%
16,686
90294
Venice
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
316
90295
Marina Del Rey
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
346
90401
Santa Monica
8,101
$110,385
77%
27,922
90402
Santa Monica
11,337
$159,100
78%
3,760
90403
Santa Monica
23,867
$121,925
76%
12,755
90404
Santa Monica
22,978
$95,139
61%
37,501
90405
Santa Monica
27,298
$121,241
70%
22,486
90406
Santa Monica
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
893
90407
Santa Monica
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
90408
Santa Monica
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
480
90409
Santa Monica
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
122
90410
Santa Monica
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
43
90411
Santa Monica
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
Insufficient Data
13
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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 Westside Cities 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 20222023, 2023-2024, 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
U
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 Westside Cities subregion had a population of nearly 680,000 residents (Exhibit 4). Over the next 10 years, the population is expected to decrease by more than 61,400 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 Westside Cities
2035 POPULATION
CHANGE
% CHANGE
679,369
617,961
-61,408
-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: Los Angeles (90066, 90034, and 90046), with more than 44,000 residents in each area. Los Angeles (90073), Malibu (90263), and Los Angeles (90067) contain the lowest concentration of residents. Please see Exhibit 3 for complete list of data by ZIP code.
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Exhibit 5. Westside Cities population by ZIP code
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HOUSEHOLD INCOME Median household income is highest in Los Angeles (90077 and 90067) and Malibu (90265), with an average median household income of $199,498. The ZIP codes with the lowest median household incomes are in Los Angeles (90024 and 90046) and Santa Monica (90404), with an average median household income of $89,324. Please see Exhibit 3 for complete list of data by ZIP code.
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Exhibit 6. Westside Cities median household income by ZIP code
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AGE The Westside Cities subregion has a similar share of residents under 35 compared to Los Angeles County. In 2024, 44% of the subregion’s population was under 35, compared to 45% in the county, while 29% was 55 or older, which is similar to the county (28%; Exhibit 7). Exhibit 7. Age cohorts in the subregion and county, 2024
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT In the Westside Cities subregion, 69% of the population aged 25 and older had completed a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024, 18% had completed some college or an associate degree, and 8% had completed high school (Exhibit 8). The percentage of the population with less than a high school diploma is substantially lower in the subregion than the county overall, 5% 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 Malibu (90263), Los Angeles (90049), Los Angeles (90077), and Santa Monica (90402), in which more than 78% of the population have a bachelor’s degree or higher. The lowest levels of educational attainment are in Los Angeles (90073) and Culver City (90230; Exhibit 9). Please see Exhibit 3 for complete list of data by ZIP code.
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Exhibit 9. Westside Cities educational attainment by ZIP code
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RACE/ETHNICITY In 2024, 58% of the subregion’s population identified as white, followed by 15% Hispanic, and 14% Asian (Exhibit 10). Compared to the county overall, Westside Cities has a higher percentage of white residents and a substantially lower percentage of Hispanic residents. . Exhibit 10. Race/ethnicity in the subregion and county, 2024
WESTSIDE CITIES POPULATION SUMMARY
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Overall, the Westside Cities subregion has an age distribution similar to Los Angeles County and substantially higher educational attainment. Compared to the county, it also has a higher share of White residents and a lower share of Hispanic residents. 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
T
HIS SECTION EXAMINES GAPS IN THE WESTSIDE CITIES 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 Westside Cities is projected to increase from 751,899 to 776,269, which is an increase of 24,370 jobs, or 3%. Similarly, Los Angeles County is projected to grow by 4%, or 189,956 jobs. While the projected rate of growth in the subregion is slightly below 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
751,899
776,269
24,370
3%
Los Angeles County
5,240,592
5,430,548
189,956
4%
California
20,700,773
22,076,875
1,376,102
7%
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Westside Cities
2035 JOBS
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EMPLOYMENT CONCENTRATION The greatest concentration of jobs was in Los Angeles (90067, 90095, and 90025), with more than 43,000 jobs in each ZIP code. Of these, Los Angeles (90095) is projected to grow the most, by 11% 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 Santa Monica (90410 and 90411) and Culver City (90231). Please see Exhibit 3 for complete list of data by ZIP code.
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Exhibit 12. Westside Cities 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 Westside Cities subregion accounted for 751,899 jobs, or approximately 14% 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
17,045
15%
Accommodation and Food Services
6,281
8%
Government
4,211
4%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
4,064
4%
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
3,583
8%
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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 notably larger share of jobs than Los Angeles County in the following industry sectors (Exhibit 14):
• Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services • Accommodation and Food Services • Information • Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation • Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
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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 Westside Cities subregion, the LA COE recommends that community colleges highlight the following industries:
• Health Care and Social Assistance • Professional, Scientific and Technical Services • Accommodation and Food Services These industries represent potential opportunities for community colleges in the Westside Cities subregion, particularly for those that represent a notably higher job share than the county, such as Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.
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; • 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.
1
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.*
Registered Nurses
868
15,340
3%
$111,190
1.03
Paralegals and Legal Assistants
780
6,296
12%
$61,268
3.59
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
567
5,987
-1%
$62,098
0.93
Producers and Directors
442
6,747
-14%
$71,604
8.80
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
306
3,316
7%
$72,126
1.15
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants
304
2,943
-2%
$68,251
1.41
Computer User Support Specialists
185
3,017
-4%
$61,072
0.92
Computer Occupations, All Other
165
2,795
0%
$69,400
1.31
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
136
1,414
2%
$62,539
0.64
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers
133
1,543
2%
$73,220
0.56
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers
128
1,529
6%
$99,395
0.49
Special Effects Artists and Animators
104
1,343
-19%
$71,706
9.58
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
103
730
11%
$67,935
1.99
Physical Therapist Assistants
81
446
23%
$76,733
0.90
Logisticians
75
753
10%
$63,281
0.61
Dental Hygienists
65
767
15%
$100,619
0.78
Respiratory Therapists
59
1,069
4%
$85,105
1.77
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
57
1,178
-4%
$85,892
0.84
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
55
897
4%
$86,489
0.89
Fashion Designers
51
589
-5%
$62,143
4.37
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 special effects artists and animators; producers and directors; and fashion designers. 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 occupational therapy assistants and firefighters.
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.*
Legal Support Workers, All Other
45
436
4%
$62,103
1.89
Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
38
441
1%
$60,927
0.20
Correctional Officers and Jailers
35
363
0%
$76,792
0.22
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
34
452
1%
$74,840
0.89
Surgical Technologists
33
512
5%
$66,199
0.99
Firefighters
32
368
9%
$79,095
0.24
Occupational Therapy Assistants
31
196
24%
$75,506
0.85
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 11,616 unique job postings in the Westside Cities subregion, which accounted for 6% 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 salesperson, and registered nurses account for nearly 2,000 postings.
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Exhibit 17: Top occupations in job postings
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Three of the top 10 employers posting job ads in the Westside Cities subregion align with the top employers in Los Angeles County (Exhibit 18).
Exhibit 18. Top employers in job postings for the subregion and county
LOS ANGELES COUNTY EMPLOYERS
Allied Universal
Allied Universal
Cedars-Sinai
Cedars-Sinai
Accenture
CVS Health
Marriott International
Kaiser Permanente
The Georgian Hotel
Edjoin.Org
Marina Del Rey Hospital
University of Southern California
French Lick Resort
Marriott International
Hilton
Panda Express
City of Santa Monica
Keck Medical Center of USC
Providence
Redwood Family Care Network
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WESTSIDE CITIES 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 Westside Cities subregion demonstrate a significant role in conferring awards in sectors such as Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies; Health; and ICT and Digital Media, in which the subregion accounts for 17% to 18% of all county awards (Exhibit 19).
Exhibit 19. CTE awards issued by sector in the subregion and county
WESTSIDE CITIES LATEST 3-YR AVG
L.A. COUNTY LATEST 3-YR AVG
SUBREGION SHARE OF COUNTY AWARDS
Advanced Manufacturing
26
2,027
1%
Advanced Transportation and Logistics
187
1,723
11%
Agriculture, Water and Environmental Technologies
72
392
18%
Business and Entrepreneurship
1,386
10,644
13%
Education and Human Development
484
4,434
11%
Energy, Construction and Utilities
23
1,621
1%
Global Trade
2
77
3%
Health
865
4,954
17%
Information and Communication Technologies Digital Media
750
4,340
17%
Life Sciences - Biotechnology
8
156
5%
Public Safety
101
3,169
3%
Retail, Hospitality and Tourism
148
1,567
9%
Unassigned
133
1,087
12%
4,184
36,191
9%
SECTOR
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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, Westside Cities community colleges confer all county awards in Dental Occupations (TOP 124000), and 81% of awards in Educational Aide (Teacher Assistant; TOP 080200). Exhibit 20. Awards issued by sector in the subregion
WESTSIDE CITIES
SUBREGION SHARE OF COUNTY AWARDS
Health
101
100%
080200 - Educational Aide (Teacher Assistant)
Education and Human Development
108
81%
124020 - Dental Hygienist
Health
112
70%
124010 - Dental Assistant
Health
134
60%
061220 - Film Production
ICT - Digital Media
134
38%
103000 - Graphic Art and Design
ICT - Digital Media
105
36%
120100 - Health Occupations, General
Health
196
34%
050900 - Marketing and Distribution
Business and Entrepreneurship
96
31%
070710 - Computer Programming
ICT - Digital Media
95
31%
050200 - Accounting
Business & Entrepreneurship
230
22%
300700 - Cosmetology and Barbering
Business & Entrepreneurship
191
22%
050100 - Business and Commerce, General
Business & Entrepreneurship
110
16%
051100 - Real Estate
Business & Entrepreneurship
125
15%
130500 - Child Development/ Early Care and Education
Education and Human Development
359
11%
050500 - Business Administration
Business & Entrepreneurship
416
9%
SECTOR
124000 - Dental Occupations
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TOP6 - PROGRAM TITLE
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#19STRONG
LABOR SUPPLY GAP
B
ASED ON OUR STUDY OF LABOR DEMAND, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL PRIORITY OCCUPATIONS
for the Westside Cities subregion, where labor supply gaps exist despite strong local educational capacity. The analysis reveals a critical undersupply of trained workers across key fields, each characterized by substantial annual openings and competitive entry-level wages yet hindered by insufficient award completion rates to meet employer needs.
UNDER SUPPLY Paralegals and legal assistants face a pronounced deficit in the subregion, with 780 annual openings in Westside Cities (2,204 across the county), entry-level annual earnings of $61,268, alongside a high employment concentration of 3.6 indicating it is three times as concentrated in the subregion as it is nationally. The subregion conferred an average of 72 related awards over the latest three academic years, compared with 419 in the county in Paralegal (TOP 140200) programs. Legal support workers, all other also show some demand, with 45 annual openings in the subregion, an employment concentration of 1.89, and entry-level annual earnings of $62,103. Therefore, legal-related occupations show strong demand and concentration in the Westside Cities subregion, while supply remains relatively low. Another sector with notable opportunities in Westside Cities is Health, as numerous occupations met the criteria for priority middle-skill jobs. For example, respiratory therapists have 59 average annual openings, 1,069 jobs in 2025, and employment projected to grow 4% over the next 10 years. This occupation offers entry-level annual earnings of $85,105 and has an employment concentration of 1.77, indicating that respiratory therapists are nearly twice as concentrated in the subregion as they are nationally. Across the broader Health sector, Westside Cities community colleges conferred an average of 865 awards over the latest three academic years, accounting for 17% of the 4,954 awards conferred countywide; however, only 12 awards were conferred in a related program under Respiratory Care/ Therapy (TOP 121000) in the subregion, suggesting there may be opportunities to expand this program to meet demand.
SPECIALIZATION OF WESTSIDE CITIES Westside Cities has several distinctive strengths, particularly in training for dental occupations, and the subregion accounts for a substantial share of awards in the county. Maintaining these strengths while strategically expanding programs aligned with priority middle-skill occupations, particularly in health care and legal support, could improve alignment between labor market needs and community college training.
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PART III: COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROFILES
C
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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SANTA MONICA COLLEGE STUDENT ENROLLMENT (2024-25)
3-YEAR AVERAGE AWARDS (2022-23 TO 2024-25)
39,096
603,765
11,939
96,923
SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
LOS ANGELES REGION
SANTA MONICA COLLEGE
LOS ANGELES REGION
SWP OUTCOMES FOR CTE PROGRAMS
RACE/ETHNICITY
MEDIAN ANNUAL EARNINGS AFTER EXIT Nursing
$85,294
Software Applications
$82,096
Respiratory Care/Therapy
$77,520
ATTAINED A LIVING WAGE Nursing
75%
Software Applications
71%
Management Development and Supervision
71%
MEDIAN CHANGE IN EARNINGS Nursing
107%
Respiratory Care/Therapy
106%
Customer Service
80%
GENDER Female
Male
Non-binary
Unknown
Santa Monica College
56%
41%
-
3%
L.A. Region
54%
43%
1%
3%
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AGE
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WEST L.A. COLLEGE STUDENT ENROLLMENT (2024-25)
3-YEAR AVERAGE AWARDS (2022-23 TO 2024-25)
19,166
603,765
3,517
96,923
WEST L.A. COLLEGE
LOS ANGELES REGION
WEST L.A. COLLEGE
LOS ANGELES REGION
SWP OUTCOMES FOR CTE PROGRAMS
RACE/ETHNICITY
MEDIAN ANNUAL EARNINGS AFTER EXIT Dental Hygienist
$87,820
Aviation Powerplant Mechanics
$69,048
Aeronautical and Aviation Technology
$69,008
ATTAINED A LIVING WAGE Computer Information Systems
77%
Dental Hygienist
77%
Aeronautical and Aviation Technology
71%
MEDIAN CHANGE IN EARNINGS Health Occupations, General
107%
Education, General
61%
Aeronautical and Aviation Technology
47%
GENDER Female
Male
Non-binary
Unknown
West L.A. College
59%
38%
1%
2%
L.A. Region
54%
43%
1%
3%
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AGE
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#19STRONG
PART IV: COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES
T
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 used to measure 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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#19STRONG
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, although the wage gap 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 smallest gap occurred in 2023, while wages for the very close group were highest in 2022 at $38.46. Exhibit 21. Wages by job similarity – from CTEOS
SWP OUTCOMES Overall, the SWP metrics show similar trends between the Westside Cities subregion and the L.A. region, except that on average more students in Westside Cities attained a living wage compared to the regional average (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, 44% of students from Westside Cities 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 27% in the subregion, compared with 28% across the region.
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• Average median annual earnings for Westside Cities graduates from 2019 to 2024 were $45,532, which is higher than the L.A. region ($40,763).
• On average, 74% of students from 2019 to 2023 obtained a job closely related to their field of study, which is slightly higher than 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 college 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
T
HIS ANALYSIS OF THE WESTSIDE CITIES 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 Westside Cities 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