The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board (WDB)

What The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board (WDB) does

The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board (WDB) is a public-sector workforce development policy and oversight body established under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It directs and coordinates workforce services in the City of Los Angeles, operating in partnership with the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD), which handles program implementation and contract monitoring. Together, the WDB and EWDD oversee approximately $100 million in funds annually across more than 50 workforce programs, with services delivered through 28 America's Job Center of California locations (WorkSource and YouthSource Centers) plus BusinessSource Centers serving employers.

The WDB's core product set spans job seeker services (employment assistance, skills training, career guidance via WorkSource Centers), youth programs (YouthSource Centers providing employment, education assistance, and career pathway development), and employer services (BusinessSource Centers offering financing, technical assistance, training, and tax incentives). Specialized programs include LA:RISE for individuals with significant employment barriers, AdvantAGE LA for older workers, ProcureLA for small businesses pursuing City contracts, and the Legacy Business Program for small/legacy businesses. Digital channels include the LA Jobs Portal and LA Business Navigator. The WDB does not charge for services; revenue is entirely from WIOA federal grants and City of Los Angeles appropriations.

The WDB is composed of 23 to 39 volunteer civic leaders representing business, labor/workforce, educational institutions, and economic and community development entities. Strategic partnerships span the California Workforce Development Board, Los Angeles County Office of Education, EWDD, REDF (LA:RISE), LA Trade Technical College, CSU Dominguez Hills, the LA/Orange Counties Building & Construction Trades Council (Apprenticeship Readiness Fund), and the Los Angeles Basin Regional Planning Unit. Recent leadership transitions include the April 2025 appointment of Hannah Lee as Executive Director and the October 2025 appointment of Nancy Twum-Akwaboah as Deputy Director. The WDB's stated 5-Year Strategic Plan goal is to connect 50,000 Angelenos to high-quality, living-wage jobs by 2030.

Name

The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board (WDB)

Legal name

City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board

Website

https://wiblacity.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board (WDB) is a federally mandated public-sector body under WIOA that oversees approximately $100 million annually across 50+ workforce programs, delivering employment, training, and employer services through 28 WorkSource and YouthSource Centers to job seekers, youth, businesses, and underserved populations in Los Angeles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs) (92313)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Workforce Development Programs (WIOA/One-Stop Career Centers) (EDAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Learning Management (LMS) & Talent Development (BPACAPAG)

Keywords

• Workforce development services
• Job training programs
• Employment career services
• Youth workforce programs
• Employer workforce support

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (WIOA): Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds administered through the City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) to provide employment and training services for job seekers and employers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board (WDB) is a federally mandated public workforce development board established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It manages approximately $100 million in annual funds and more than 50 workforce programs, delivering job training, career services, employer support, youth employment programs, and rapid response services through 28 America's Job Center of California locations (WorkSource and YouthSource Centers) across the City of Los Angeles.

Product overview

The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board (WDB) operates a multi-service workforce development ecosystem managed in partnership with the Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD). The system includes 28 America's Job Center of California sites (WorkSource and YouthSource Centers) delivering training, career services, employer support, and rapid response. Key programs include LA:RISE for individuals with employment barriers, AdvantAGE LA for older workers, ProcureLA for city contract acquisition, and the Legacy Business Program for small businesses. Digital platforms include the L.A. Jobs Portal and LA Business Navigator. The WDB manages approximately $100 million in funds annually across more than 50 workforce programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WorkSource Centers: America's Job Center of California locations providing training, career services, employer support, and rapid response services throughout Los Angeles.
• YouthSource Centers
• LA:RISE (LA Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise)
• AdvantAGE LA

Products and services

• WorkSource Centers America's Job Center of California sites providing training, career services, employer support, and rapid response services throughout Los Angeles. WorkSource Centers have helped over 120,000 job seekers find work.
• YouthSource Centers Centers helping young adults with full-time or summer employment programs, training, career guidance, and assistance with education.
• BusinessSource Centers Centers helping local businesses, entrepreneurs, and developers through services including financing, technical assistance, training, and workforce programs.
• LA:RISE (LA Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise) Collaborative initiative connecting workforce agencies, social enterprises, and supportive services to help individuals with significant employment barriers secure jobs and build sustainable careers.
• AdvantAGE LA Plan highlighting actionable solutions for older workers to access equitable employment and for employers to capitalize on these opportunities, accompanied by a social media awareness toolkit for age-inclusive workforce practices.
• ProcureLA Program providing free services and resources to equip small businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to acquire City contracts.
• Legacy Business Program Initiative supporting the patronage and sustainability of deep-rooted small businesses through digital marketing, modern B2C business models, and access to capital and grants.
• Letters of Support / Memorandums of Understanding WDB service for partners to request Letters of Support and MOUs for workforce-related funding applications and formal partnership agreements.
• L.A. Jobs Portal Online portal connecting job seekers with employment opportunities in Los Angeles.
• LA Business Navigator Business navigation platform providing resources for businesses in Los Angeles.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120,000+ job seekers placed in employment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWDB operates in partnership with the City of Los Angeles EWDD, which oversees workforce services, program implementation, and monitors programs and contracts. Together they oversee approximately $100 million in funds annually.
• Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for youth workforce development, including Steve Zimmer's role as Strategic Partnerships Administrator for the Community Schools Initiative.
• REDF (LA:RISE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLA:RISE (LA Regional Initiative for Social Enterprise) is a collaborative initiative connecting workforce agencies, social enterprises, and supportive services to help individuals with significant employment barriers secure jobs and build sustainable careers.
• Los Angeles City Youth Development DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Citywide Youth Development Strategic Plan, collaborating on YouthSource Center programs and evaluation.
• Miguel Contreras FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation focused on workforce development and youth empowerment, led by WDB board member Armando Loza as Executive Director.
• California Workforce Development BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level workforce development board that Local Plans must align with per state requirements.
• Los Angeles Basin Regional Planning Unit (LABRPU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative of seven Workforce Development Boards within Los Angeles County working on regional workforce planning and coordination.
• Apprenticeship Readiness FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit division of the LA/Orange Counties Building & Construction Trades Council, led by WDB board member Ben Garcia, focused on Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) Apprenticeship Readiness Programs.
• 28 WorkSource and YouthSource CenterscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNetwork of service provider agencies delivering workforce services including training, career services, employer support, and rapid response throughout Los Angeles.
• LA Trade Technical College and CSU Dominguez HillsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institutions involved in workforce training programs, with board members serving as instructors/advisory board members.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Francisco Workforce Development Board (OEWD): City of San Francisco's WIOA-aligned workforce development system delivering employment and training services through city-run workforce centers; structurally analogous to the LA WDB/EWDD model.
• Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board: County-level WDB operating under the same WIOA framework with a much larger geographic footprint and budget; a peer under WIOA's local board structure and fellow LABRPU member.
• Chicago Workforce Development Board (Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership): WIOA local board serving Chicago and Cook County with a network of workforce centers; comparable scale and structure to the LA WDB's 28-center network.
• New York City Workforce Development Board (via SBS): NYC's WIOA local board housed within the Department of Small Business Services; operates the city's workforce system with multi-center service delivery and employer partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• California Workforce Development Board: State-level workforce policy and oversight body that LA WDB's Local Plans must align with; sets statewide strategy and administers broader WIOA allocations.
• America's Job Center of California (state network): Statewide network of WIOA-affiliated one-stop centers in which LA's 28 WorkSource/YouthSource Centers participate; the umbrella system the WDB operates within.

Others

• Robert Half (employment services): Major private-sector staffing and employment services firm; not a public peer but serves overlapping employer and job-seeker needs in the LA labor market, providing a private-sector counterpoint.

Regional players

• Workforce Development Board of Solano County: Northern California WIOA local board serving a different geography; a peer in the same WDB functional model but operating outside LA County.

Emerging players

• Year Up (workforce nonprofit): National workforce development nonprofit focused on young adults from underserved communities; operates adjacent programs and competes for similar WIOA-aligned youth funding.
• REDF (Roberts Enterprise Development Fund): National nonprofit that co-leads LA:RISE with the WDB; focused on employment of people facing barriers through social enterprise — a close implementation partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LACityWDB

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The City of Los Angeles Workforce Development Board (WDB)