When the pandemic hit, we saw an unprecedented number of new businesses formed as millions of people spotted new opportunities brought on by the ‘new normal’ or reevaluated their priorities. Now, almost two years later, we’re continuing to see this trend, as 2022 promises to deliver even more small business growth and prosperity.

Challenges in Workforce Management: For a nation’s economy, the growth of businesses is extremely important. However, the processes involved in a business are complex. The success parameters of a business include hiring, retention, operations, customer relations, and talent shortages.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Advertising and Marketing Managers 
• Financial Manager 
• Paralegal Manager 
• Business Management 
• Real Estate Agent 
• Data Analyst 
• Computer Information Management

Based on feedback from regional industry advisories and student surveys, we need to implement strategies that prepare students for the world of work as an entrepreneur. Business and Entrepreneurship is a priority sector that provides the opportunity for educators to not only teach content but also to help students learn that the current world of work rewards innovation. Inadequate supports exist to empower teachers to innovate in classrooms and to focus on helping students build entrepreneurial mindsets. These skills include grit, communication, critical thinking, innovation, time management, emotional intelligence, and the ability to deal with ambiguity and complexity. Entrepreneurial mindsets and competencies will be critical to success in the future workforce.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Sales Printing Industry 
• Work From Home Flex Printing 
• Flexographic Printing Manager 
• Remote 3D Printing 
• Operations Manager 
• Repress Manager 
• Project Manager

Businesses currently face challenges including overcoming talent pipeline and supply chain problems and severe worker shortages. Contributing factors to the current situation include COVID-19 issues, import/export challenges, and the cost of raw materials. Supply chain management involves overseeing the entire life cycle of the goods or services a company produces. There are numerous responsibilities associated with supply chain management, such as procuring raw materials, establishing production processes, and distributing finished products to customers. 

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Vice President, Supply Chain Management 
• Global Supply Chain Management 
• Logistics Manager 
• Supply Chain Manager 
• Global Commodities Director 
• Purchasing Manager 
• Strategic Sourcing Manager

Employment of accountants and auditors is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 135,000 openings for accountants and auditors are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retiring. 

Successfully providing advisory services is dependent on compliance work. To advise and guide your clients, you need a foundation of current, accurate financial data. Firms can outsource and automate many tasks related to these services, but the need is still there. As long as those services exist, your firm will need people to do and manage that work.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Vice-President of Finance
• Chief Financial Officer
• International Tax Manager
• Finance Director
• Finance Manager
• Senior Financial Analyst
• Compliance Manager

Due to a diminishing talent pipeline in the Orange County hospitality sector, it is important for Orange County educators to help students draw connections between their interests and passions – broadening their awareness and exposure to exciting business careers and the abundance of jobs in hospitality. It is evident that students would benefit greatly from the recognition (discovery) that the hospitality industry offers innovation, change, and career advancement in a broad variety of jobs that align with business program completion, certificates, and degrees.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Hotel Manager 
• Accounting & Finance Professionals
• Culinary Professionals
• Event Operations/Planning
• Human Resources  Professionals
• Sales Professionals
• Casino Director 
• Head of Housekeeping

Computer science is essential to everyday life and impacts nearly every part of society. A few sub-specialties of computer science have a higher-than-average level of demand. The field also requires expertise in data mining services. Businesses are increasingly turning to customer relationship management software and algorithms for marketing and analysis purposes. The federal government has become one of the biggest employers of computer scientists and analysts thanks to the relationship between computer science and national security. The field is highly profitable and likely to stay profitable for the foreseeable future. Plus, computer science is strategically necessary to the world today.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Data Mining 
• Data Analytics 
• Blockchain & Digital Assets Manager
• Mobile Application Developer
• Web Developer 
• UX Designer 
• Machine Learning Engineer/Developer
• Data Scientist

Despite the high job demand, computer science remains a male-dominated field.  Educators can work together to help females and other underrepresented students discover opportunities in Information Technology and Computer Science careers. 

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Computer and information systems managers
• Software architect
• Computer network architects
• Information security analysts 
• Computer systems analysts
• Database architects
• Computer programmers

Despite the high job demand, computer science remains a male-dominated field.  Educators can work together to help females and other underrepresented students discover opportunities in Information Technology and Computer Science careers. 

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers: 

• Computer and information systems managers
• Software architect
• Computer network architects
• Information security analysts 
• Computer systems analysts
• Database architects
• Computer programmers

Years before pandemic restrictions upturned the U.S. education industry, California was already struggling with a statewide teacher shortage. Today this teacher shortage remains one of the nation’s worst. However, the socioeconomic devastation wrought by COVID-19 has driven the state’s long-standing shortage to new and alarming heights.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Education Specialist Credentialed Teachers
• Multiple Subject-Credentialed Teachers
• Single Subject Credentialed Teachers
• School Counselors
• School Psychologists
• Speech & Language Pathologist
• Specialty Educators (Environmental, Informal, Multiple Intelligences)
• Community College Faculty
• Professors

A staggering 80 percent of California school districts — four out of every five — are being impacted by teacher shortages, with disproportionate impacts upon communities of color of the state. Investment now in bilingual teacher pipeline programs is of paramount importance for the future of California. We know this from educational policy analysis alarming us about the present and future shortage of bilingual teachers.  We continue to face significant challenges in meeting the need for adequately trained bilingual education teachers who can support students. Increasing the supply of adequately trained bilingual education teachers is necessary to leverage opportunities so more students can achieve biliteracy and the state can meet the demands of an increasingly globalized economy.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Bilingual Education Specialist Credentialed Teachers
• Bilingual Multiple Subject Credentialed Teachers
• Bilingual Single Subject Credentialed Teachers
• Bilingual School Counselors
• Bilingual School Psychologists
• Bilingual Speech & Language Pathologist
• Bilingual Specialty Educators (Environmental, Informal, Multiple Intelligences)
• Bilingual Community College Faculty
• Bilingual Professors

Because the demand for technically skilled workers is constantly increasing, schools have begun to implement more career education programs. This requires more career educators to play the essential role of assisting secondary students who explore possible career interests and develop skills that will enhance their future education and career. These career teachers integrate technical skills, employability skills, and academic skills in their curriculum and instruction. Students are exposed to the abundance of pathways available to them through specialized industries. This demand spans unique industry sectors and includes pathways for teaching in the Visual Arts with CTE training to operate equipment in the Spyder Labs or to find employment within art education, and entertainment design industries.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Agriculture & Natural Resources Career Teachers
• Arts, Media, Entertainment & Digital Media Career Teachers
• Building & Construction Trades Teachers
• Business & Finance Career Teachers
• Education, Child Development & Family Service Career Educators
• Energy, Environment & Utilities Career Educators
• Engineering & Architecture Career Teachers
• Fashion & Interior Design Career Teachers
• Global Trades & Logistics Career Teachers
• Health & Medical Career Teachers
• Hospitality, Tourism, & Retail Career Teachers
• Information & Communication Technologies Career Educators
• Advanced Manufacturing & Product Development Career Teachers
• Marketing, Sales & Service Career Teachers
• Public Service Career Teachers
• Transportation Career Teachers

Currently, the nation’s largest manufacturing state, California, is facing a huge gap in skilled workforce in advanced/smart manufacturing as the new employees do not meet the demands of this technology-intensive sector. The future of manufacturing is moving toward digital transformation and smart, sustainable processes. Companies are increasing sophistication, automation, agility, and efficiency. In addition, they are investing billions in a wide array of advanced digital and fabrication technologies—including the widespread use of internet-connected sensors and analytics, in addition to 3D printing and nano-manufacturing. Manufacturing and Engineering processes and systems will be more responsive to disruptions, handle uncertainties better and expertly monitor to make the entire supply chain better. With the development of new technologies, there is a clear need to establish a lifelong learning pathway for advanced/smart manufacturing starting from K12 education, college, and university education to professional development for the workforce of the future.

While today’s advanced manufacturing & engineering environment is primarily based on acquired knowledge and human education, tomorrow’s operation will be more heavily data-driven, as we refine ways to retrieve and convert data into knowledge, and knowledge into real-world application.  

The following skillsets are essential for job seekers:

• Analyzing data to identify problems and improve manufacturing processes or working with other engineers to develop new manufacturing technologies
• Optimizing space utilization and supporting continuous improvement to supply chain management 
• Identifying opportunities for cost savings through improved efficiency or reduced waste in materials or labor
• Developing engineering standards and best practices for manufacturing processes, including working with industry associations to develop industry-wide standards
• Designing consumer electronic products, from concept to production to market

Autonomous systems are having a profound and disruptive effect on society, changing day-to-day life, as we know it. Never before has the field of human-computer interaction and robotics been more important. People will increasingly come to rely on autonomous systems to carry out both highly specialized and mundane tasks, and the relationship between man and machine will give rise to new questions and dilemmas. We cannot fully embrace our autonomous future.  The Orange County Autonomous Systems Pathway (OC ASP) introduces students from diverse populations and economically challenged regions from multiple school districts in Orange County to the world of robotics and autonomous systems (drones) starting in junior high and middle schools through Community College and 4-year degree programs. 

Autonomy requires that the system be able to do the following:

• Sense the environment and keep track of the system’s current state and location.
  Perceive and understand disparate data sources.
• Determine what action to take next and make a plan.
• Act only when it is safe to do so, avoiding situations that pose a risk to human safety, property or the autonomous system itself.

After figuring out how to harvest, store and use electricity, engineers were able to bring mechanics to life; and as computer science rose in usefulness, mechatronic engineers started to use their field to create smart and complex machines that are designed to make life more secure and efficient. As these machines become more intricate and capable, the future of mechatronics will continue to grow and look for ways we can use energy and mechanics to help accomplish difficult or time-consuming tasks, as well as continue to connect the world and increase our understanding of life.  Our entire modern world revolves around the advancements society has made with electricity. Technological advancements continue to grow and change in ways that will no longer be noticeable by the size of the technology we create, but with the innovative ideas, we are able to make into realities. Mechatronics is a field that opens the door to possibilities of new breakthrough ideas that have the potential to change day-to-day life. The goal of the project is to strengthen the education-to-workforce pipeline to ensure education, vocational, and workforce programs work in tandem to build the OC Mechatronics pipeline.

Orange County Mechatronics programs will give students specific knowledge of: 

• Practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Computer-aided design (CAD) and other engineering software for modeling, simulating and analyzing complex mechanical, electronic, or other engineering systems.
• Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• High-tech machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

As the water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector continues to face increasing pressures, especially due to the impacts of climate change, regions are needing to increase resilience and sustainability.  Innovation and technology play a vital role in scarcity and safety, water efficiency, utility operations, monitoring and treatment, and data and analytics.  Courses in Water and Wastewater Technology provide the necessary background to be successful in passing the State test. Metrics will be provided to track student success rates with respect to passing rates in the program and the state-administered test. The project will prepare students to pass State exams administered by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to receive career-ready operator certifications. The water science and electronic technical coursework and certifications the students receive provides them access to successfully work in the water and wastewater industry and the electronics technology/automation areas. 

Positions in the field will perform a variety of technical and routine engineering, scientific, drafting, surveying, and construction duties.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Junior Engineering Technician
• Water Resources Engineering Associate
• Water Resources Technician
• Water Services Supervisor

Today’s global challenges have made clear the need for players across the mental and behavioral health landscape— including but not limited to both private and public insurers, care providers, employers, and government policymakers—to innovate to better serve the behavioral health needs of people across the world. Doing so could not only address a pressing social challenge but also improve healthcare outcomes; reduce healthcare costs; and create a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce. Disruption from cultural change, scientific and technological advancement, increased care access, data sharing, interoperable data, and empowered consumers are creating opportunities across sectors to forge a new future in behavioral health  The overall goal of the Healthcare Education Pathways Program (HEPP) is to encourage students from underserved populations to consider jobs in healthcare and to educate them to seek employment in healthcare upon graduation from partner educational institutions.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Nurse Psychotherapists.
• Psychologist
• Clinical Social Worker
• Marital and Family Therapist
• Mental Health Counselor
• Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor
• Pastoral Counselor
• Peer Specialist

The practice of medicine has changed dramatically over the years through pioneering advances in biotechnology research and innovation; and millions of patients worldwide continue to benefit from therapeutics developed by companies that are discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines to treat grievous illnesses. As companies continue to develop medicines that address significant unmet needs, future innovations in biotechnology research will bring exciting new advances to help millions more people worldwide.  The K-16 Anaheim Regional Collaborative for Health (ARCH) is dedicated to providing inclusive supports for underserved students, expanding industry partnerships and workplace experiences, and continuing to grow Anaheim’s highly successful K-16 collaborative partnership known as the Anaheim Union Educational Pledge. 

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Biomedical Laboratory Technician
• Senior Clinical Research Associate
• Biomedical Scientist
• Senior Medical Writer
• Senior Medicinal Chemist
• Tenure Track Professor of Biomedical Science
• Medical Sales Director
• Senior Biomedical Scientist

Today our emergency and patient care system faces an epidemic of crowded emergency departments, patients boarding in hallways waiting to be admitted, and daily ambulance diversions. Hospital-Based Emergency Care addresses the difficulty of balancing the roles of hospital-based emergency and trauma care, not simply urgent and lifesaving care, but also safety net care for uninsured patients, public health surveillance, disaster preparation, and adjunct care in the face of increasing patient volume and limited resources. This project will guide students from high school pathways through Community College and degree programs/pathways, which will lead toward high-skill, high-demand, high-wage employment in healthcare-related fields within the region.

Pathways in Orange County schools and colleges will lead students into the following jobs and careers:

• Nurse Practitioner
• Speech-Language Pathologist
• Physician
• Registered Nurse
• Respiratory Therapist
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Manager Emergency Preparedness
• Emergency Preparedness Planner
• Emergency Preparedness Consultant
• Emergency Preparedness Officer