SELACO workforce board outlines job training, employer partnerships at Cerritos meeting
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Summary
Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board executive director Yolanda Castro told Cerritos’ Economic Development Commission that SELACO offers job center services, employer recruitment help, training partnerships with Cerritos College and targeted programs for youth, veterans and other priority groups.
Yolanda Castro, executive director of the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board, told the Cerritos Economic Development Commission on Oct. 14 that SELACO operates an America Job Center in Cerritos and offers job-search assistance, training and employer services across eight member cities.
Castro said SELACO’s services include in‑center job search assistance, paid work experience and on-the-job training. “We can do direct recruitments for [employers] at no cost,” Castro said, adding the board provides prescreening and training to upskill existing employees. She also described targeted supports for “at‑risk youth or youth who are disconnected, veterans, adults with limited skills, persons with disabilities, welfare recipients and justice‑involved individuals.”
The presentation emphasized partnerships with Cerritos College and other education providers. Castro said SELACO coordinates classroom and logistics training with Cerritos College and organizes mini job fairs so employers can hire graduates immediately. Castro and deputy directors said SELACO tracks outcomes in the state’s CalJOBS system and follows placements for up to a year after job start.
Deputy director Sandra Michelle told commissioners that, among the seven workforce boards in the Los Angeles County region, SELACO ranked first on the board’s five performance metrics — second‑quarter placement, fourth‑quarter placement, median wages, measurable skill gains and certifications. “We were number one in the region,” Sandra said.
Commissioners asked how the board markets services to job seekers and employers. Castro and her staff described a social media footprint, presence at community events and a team of business engagement specialists assigned to cities to meet employers and chambers. Castro also described a sector strategy on artificial intelligence, which included employer focus groups, panels with industry and educators, and a stakeholder action plan to prepare job seekers and employers for AI changes.
Why it matters: SELACO’s local job‑training and employer recruitment services connect Cerritos residents and businesses to state‑funded programs and pipelines to work. Commissioners suggested stronger cross‑promotion with city channels, the Cerritos Chamber of Commerce and local schools to increase visibility and worksite placement opportunities.
Ending: Castro invited commissioners to tour SELACO’s center in Cerritos and requested that city staff share the board’s quarterly newsletter with the commission. She said SELACO is available to coordinate paid work experience placements that include the board as employer of record for the initial period.
