Central Valley partnership helps connect workers to high-demand, high-wage jobs | Opinion
In the heart of California’s Central Valley, where agriculture, healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing and small businesses shape our daily lives, a quiet challenge is unfolding: our workforce is shrinking. According to the Public Policy Institute of California, labor force participation has dropped from 67% to 62% over the past two decades.
As our population continues to age and fewer workers enter the pipeline, the Fresno region — and California as a whole — must act now to prepare those who can and want to work for their future careers.
The solution lies in stronger connections between education and employment. Local and regional partnerships are helping students and workers gain technical and employability skills while building real-world connections with employers. These strategies are essential for driving both economic growth and equitable opportunities across the Central Valley.
That’s where the Central San Joaquin Valley K-16 Partnership comes in. This macroregional collaboration — made up of the Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative and the Tulare-Kings College and Career Collaborative — is focused on one shared mission: to help more people in our region access high-demand, high-wage jobs through clear career pathways, skill-building and hands-on experiences.
In 2025, the partnership launched a new regional campaign called “Explore It. Achieve It.” This approach is designed to provide students, adult learners and incumbent workers with the tools necessary to explore career options and gain the skills needed to move forward. Whether someone is just starting out, re-entering the workforce or looking to advance in their career, this initiative offers practical next steps in four key industries: business, education, engineering and health.
Whether you are a parent, a high school student, a college seeker or an adult learner, this initiative provides a wealth of information on how to navigate the skill acquisition process within these four different pathways.
To date, the Partnership has engaged 42 K-16 institutions and nearly 100 industry partners to build a regional network committed to improving student outcomes and meeting local workforce needs. This aligns directly with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s California Master Plan for Career Education, which calls for expanded work-based learning and career exploration opportunities statewide.
Work-based learning plays a central role in bridging the classroom and the workplace. It includes everything from internships and apprenticeships to job shadows, guest speakers and hands-on classroom projects. These experiences expose students to real career options while giving them the hard and soft skills needed to thrive in the future workforce.
“Employers within the four selected pathways can participate to help build a pipeline of workers and gain access to workforce talent by engaging in work-based learning opportunities,” said Bill Davis, administrator at the Tulare County Office of Education. “We understand that people in our four-county region want to make an impact and a living wage while advancing in a career that works for their unique needs and situation.”
Local businesses are already seeing the benefits of this collaborative approach. Clay Ipsen, president of HealthForce, has worked closely with the partnership to prepare future healthcare professionals through the Junior Medical Academy, which provides students with tailored lessons, hands-on activities, guest instructors and facility tours.
“Short-term internships, apprenticeships and workplace tours ... (help) us fulfill our mission of increasing access to healthcare and developing a diverse healthcare workforce,” Ipsen said.
As we look toward California’s future, the stakes are clear: The state — and especially the Central Valley — must invest in homegrown talent and ensure that every learner has a pathway to prosperity.