The EDD is proud to play an important role in California's communities and is committed to providing services that help boost the economic well being of the state.

We are actively working in hundreds of California communities to build a better, stronger work force—one that offers individuals, employers, and communities the opportunity to achieve and sustain economic prosperity.

We provide a variety of services in your community that:

• FILL JOBS AND JOB OPENINGS

• PROTECT WORKERS AGAINST WAGE LOSS

• ASSIST INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

• HELP YOU PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

• PARTNER WITH THE COMMUNITY

Millions of Californians benefit from the community and partnership efforts that EDD participates in, including:

• Agricultural Workers
• Employers
• Job Seekers
• People With Disabilities
• Senior Workers
• Veterans
• Welfare Recipients
• Youth

Agricultural Workers The EDD recognizes the significant role that agriculture plays in California’s economy, and is committed to serving the needs of this important industry. The EDD participates in a variety of efforts that benefit the agricultural community:

• Annual Farmworkers Breakfast—This is a huge community celebration/event in Calexico, where more than 100 volunteers serve breakfast to more than 3,000 farmworkers. This event began more than 20 years ago and demonstrates EDD's appreciation for farmworkers in the agricultural community.
  

• California Agricultural Employment Forum—In co-sponsorship with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), EDD works collaboratively with agricultural employers, farmworker representatives, and others with agricultural expertise to identify, prioritize, and resolve issues affecting the state's agricultural industry. EDD and the CDFA facilitate the forum to help stabilize California’s agricultural work force, while fostering good relationships with farmworkers and farmers.

Employers Employers play a vital role in California’s economy. The EDD participates in a variety of efforts that benefit the employer community:

• Employer Advisory Councils (EAC)—EACs are formed in local areas to develop stronger partnerships between EDD and the business community. EAC members are a cross section of local employer volunteers who join with EDD staff to assist the employment community to do business more effectively and efficiently. As part of the EDD/EAC partnership, EDD co-sponsors a variety of workshops, seminars, and an annual conference.

• Job Referrals—CalJOBS^SM, EDD’s online job and resume bank, provides a no-fee method for employers to list their job openings, view resumes, and contact job seekers for interviews. Thousands of job openings are listed daily on CalJOBS^SM along with the largest pool of job seekers in California. CalJOBS^SM is linked to a national database—America’s Job Bank. A variety of other job services are provided.

• Labor Market Information—To help businesses plan effective strategies in today’s competitive market, EDD offers up-to-the-minute economic and employment information. A variety of statistics are available and employers can request information that is tailored to their region.

• Compliance Consulting—Because EDD’s goal is to save employers time, frustration, and money in meeting their payroll tax obligations, EDD has increased its efforts to inform and educate businesses about tax laws which affect them. The EDD offers personalized consultations to employers, as well as seminars and workshops.

Job Seekers The EDD provides people with the tools they need to succeed in finding a job. Services include automated job listings, resume and job search workshops, job search workshops, and referrals to training. The EDD offers services at Job Services sites and One-Stop Career Centers around the state.

• Experience Unlimited Job Clubs—Many professional, managerial, and technical workers who have unexpectedly found themselves out of work are now working together—helping each other find new employment opportunities through "job clubs" sponsored by EDD. There are 24 chapters located throughout the state.

• Special Services—The EDD provides a variety of employment services to help individuals who are experiencing difficulty in finding jobs, including veterans, Unemployment Insurance claimants, persons with disabilities, migrant and seasonal farmworkers, ex-offenders, homeless persons, and youth. The EDD assists economically disadvantaged persons with severe barriers to employment, including lack of job or language skills, limited education, poor work habits/attitudes, and legal problems.

• Unemployment Insurance (UI)—The EDD administers the state’s UI program, which provides unemployment insurance payments to workers who have lost their job through no fault of their own and are actively seeking work. UI ensures that at least some of life’s necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing, can be met while an active search for new work takes place. Since UI benefits are spent primarily in the claimant’s local community, they also help sustain the economic well-being of local businesses.

People With Disabilities The EDD is committed to enhanced employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Services include job and training referrals, counseling, and job search assistance and workshops.

• Disability Insurance (DI)—This program provides short-term DI benefits to workers who are unable to work due to a non-work related illness, injury, or pregnancy. The DI program ensures that at least some of life’s necessities, such as food, shelter, and clothing, can be met, and since DI benefits are spent primarily in the claimant’s local community, they also help sustain the economic well-being of local businesses.

• Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (GCEPD)—The EDD supports the efforts of the GCEPD, which strives to eliminate barriers to employment for Californians who have disabilities. As a public-private sector partnership of volunteers, the Committee advises the Governor's Office on various disability-related employment issues.
  

• Disability Employment Awareness Month—This campaign in October gives statewide emphasis to the employment of people with disabilities and is primarily supported through the efforts of EDD, GCEPD, and community mayor committees.

• Media Access Awards—Sponsored by EDD, GCEPD, and the Media Access Advisory Board, this unique event recognizes outstanding productions, individual contributions, and corporate achievements in the media industry that promote accurate portrayals of people with disabilities.

• Hal Connolly Scholar-Athlete Award—Funded by private donations, this award provides cash grants to high school senior girls and boys with disabilities who are competitively involved in athletics and plan to attend college. The EDD co-sponsors this award along with the GCEPD.
  

• Statewide Annual Awards—The EDD also supports these awards, which are sponsored by the GCEPD. This annual awards program acknowledges individuals and companies who have contributed to the employment of people with disabilities.

• Youth Leadership Forum—Held each year, this successful forum offers an opportunity for students with disabilities to develop skills which will be useful as they enter into the world of work.

Senior Workers The EDD recognizes a dramatic shift in California's working population. As the age of our average worker increases, employers will have an opportunity to benefit from hiring our State's most precious resource: the experienced worker. The EDD recognizes that a trained older workforce is vital to today’s economy. Employers who hire older workers find that these employees have a strong work ethic, are dependable, and possess versatile work experiences.

• Senior Worker Advocate Office—The EDD’s Senior Worker Advocate Office was created in recognition of the growth in the population of older workers. This office works closely with private businesses, senior advocacy groups, labor, education, community-based organizations, veteran affairs, state government, and the California Department of Aging. Its activities raise public awareness about hiring older workers age 40 and over and about the availability of employment services.
  

• National Employ the Older Worker Week—During the last full week in September, EDD joins the rest of the nation in observing this specially designated week, which promotes the employment of older workers. While special emphasis is added during this week, EDD provides a full range of employment services to older workers year-round.

Veterans The EDD takes its commitment to the men and women who faithfully served our nation in the military seriously. Veterans receive priority in job and training referrals and other employment-related services.

• Veteran Appreciation Month—May is designated as "Veteran Appreciation Month" in California. Throughout this month, EDD makes special efforts to focus the attention of the news media, employers, and the public to the job needs of unemployed veterans. The EDD also participates in local job fairs and other activities to promote the hiring of veterans.

• Employer of the Year Award—The EDD actively participates in this award, which recognizes employers who have made it a goal to seek out and employ veterans as a matter of company or personnel policy.

• Veterans Employment Committees (VEC)—The EDD supports the efforts of the VECs throughout the state. These committees work closely with veterans to keep them informed of employment and training opportunities.

Welfare Recipients The EDD is committed to working with welfare recipients, employers, community-based organizations, and volunteers to make a successful transition to the workplace.

• Intensive Services Program—Focused on welfare recipients, this program provides intensive employment services to persons who need extra help to obtain employment. Individualized services are provided to enhance their job readiness.

• Governor’s Portraits of Success—This event salutes individuals who have overcome obstacles and have made better lives for themselves and their families. The individuals honored are graduates of local Private Industry Council Job Training Partnership Act and Welfare-to-Work programs.

Youth California’s economic future depends on a skilled, educated workforce. That is why EDD is committed to shaping today’s youth into a productive and skilled workforce of tomorrow.

• School Partnership Program—The EDD values the voluntary contributions that its own employees make to the youth in their communities. That’s why EDD encourages its employees to become mentors. Since 1991, EDD employees have mentored hundreds of young people.

• Groundhog Job Shadow Day—Job shadowing gives students the chance to "shadow" a worker on the job and learn how skills acquired in school are applied in the workplace. The EDD encourages its employees to participate in Groundhog Job Shadow Day, a national effort to host students in the workplace.

• Youth Employment Opportunity Program (YEOP)—The EDD supports efforts that encourage youth to stay in school, explore viable career options, and develop positive work habits and attitudes. The YEOP program assists at-risk youth in the community through a variety of employment services, partnerships with schools and businesses, job fairs, classroom speakers, job preparation activities, and summer youth programs.