Agenda - 08-06-1990 - Laserfiche WebLink

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97%25/1990 10:57 FF,Or•I H RETTEF IP1RGE F'F.IIITI1113 TO 19196443004 STATUS OF ORANGE COUNTY Em lo ment The overall average annual wage in Orange County (1987 statistics) was a $18,063. More than 25 percent of jobs pay wages that keep a family of three (the average sized family in the County) below the poverty line. These are the "working poor" in the county. Also, sources of income have shif led since 1986. The number of persons working in low - paying service jobs has increased, while jobs in the high - paying manufacturing sector have decreased. Forty -four percent of all county residents were involved in service employment in 1987. Low wage industries contribute considerably to the population of the working poor. (Dobelstein 1989) ❑ PERCEIVED NEEDS FOR CHANGE/IMPROVEMENT Provide counselling and /or referral to enable individuals to acquire skills — Establish an employment council Need for job fairs - identify location of jobs - identify job requirements -- Differentiate between "career" and "jobs" - provide counselling and /or referral to enable individuals to acquire skills Need more comprehensive transportation system -- Coordinate with existing human services system -- Expand current services (e.g., request McBroom bus system to explore how they might help relieve some of the current needs) • More economic development —Need for forthcoming report from Economic Development Commission —Need to review and revise development restrictions which discourage industry from locating in the County Encourage basic income to all --More competitive wages and improved working conditions - Critical need for primary employers to reclassify jots and raise wage scales -Need for wages to be comparable to the cost of living in the County Need for employers to put more resources into training/ education for a better work force --Need for employers to offer incentives to continue /finish education -- Utilize volunteer programs that increase productivity (e.g., Habitat for Humanity and Literacy Council) • Promote farming in county — Provide workable regulations for land use and water duality -- Promote and coordinate a county farmers market CURRENT INITIATIVES (Employment) • The Economic Development Commission has established an aggressive work program for the upcoming year that Will include: — Establishment of an Orange County branch of the 5ma11 Business Technological development Corporation to provide assistance to our small businesses — Establishment of a visitor's service program — Launching a new marketing effort to attract new, appropriate industries