Agency Members
- Agricultural Labor Relations Board
- California Business Investment Services
- California Economic Strategy Panel
- California Employment Development Department
- California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board
- California Workforce Investment Board
- Department of Industrial Relations/ Labor Commissioner
- Employment Training Panel
Agency Departments and Boards
The California Labor & Workforce Development Agency is an executive branch agency, and the Secretary is a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. The Agency oversees seven major departments, boards and panels that serve California businesses and workers. The budget for all Agency operations totals about $11.2 billion, and includes approximately 11,600 staff working throughout California.
The Agency was created in 2002, and is the first cabinet-level agency to coordinate workforce programs. The goals of the Agency are twofold:
- Improve access to employment and training programs.
- Ensure that California businesses and workers have a level playing field in which to compete and prosper.
Business owners that follow the law face unfair competition from employers who do not pay employment taxes or the minimum wage, fail to provide workers’ compensation coverage, or break the law in other ways.
The remainder of this page provides a summary of the major agency operations. Select any of the links to learn more about the work being done within the Agency.
Agency Departments and Boards
Agricultural Labor Relations Board
- California’s growers and workers have rights and responsibilities to support fair workplace practices. The ALRB adjudicates and oversees elections to determine whether or not agricultural workers are to be represented by a collective bargaining agent. Visit the ALRB Web site for information on growers and workers rights and responsibilities.
California Business Investment Services
- CalBIS serves employers, corporate real estate executives, and site location consultants considering California for new business investment and expansion.
California Economic Strategy Panel
- The Secretary of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) serves as the chair of the California Economic Strategy Panel. The bipartisan Panel, established in 1993, develops a statewide vision and strategy to guide public policy decisions regarding economic growth and development.
California Employment Development Department
- Looking for a job? Need assistance applying for unemployment or disability benefits? Looking for assistance in calculating your business’ payroll taxes? Need to find a job training class? Want to hire workers? Visit the EDD Web site for more information on these programs and to find the nearest one stop career center.
California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board
- Did you know you can file an appeal if you are denied unemployment or disability benefits? Did you know you can file an appeal if you have a former employee who is incorrectly claiming benefits? To learn more about the state board that processes and makes decisions on these appeals, visit the CUIAB Web site.
California Workforce Investment Board
- California’s ever-changing economy needs highly skilled workers to maintain its stability. The CalWIB is a policy board overseeing the coordination of California’s many job training programs. To learn more about workforce development programs in California, visit the CalWIB Web site.
Department of Industrial Relations
- Having problems receiving wages for work you have done? Injured on the job? Looking for apprenticeship programs? Want to find out more about improving safety in your workplace? Learn more about your workplace rights and responsibilities at the DIR Web site.
- California businesses need skilled workers to increase productivity and prosperity. To assist California’s industries and businesses, the ETP funds job training programs to update your workers’ skills and support your business. Visit the ETP Web site for information on financial grants to business owners.