Frequently Asked Questions

We have identified the most frequently asked questions from workers and businesses and provide you with answers or a link to more comprehensive information.

Employees and Job Seekers
Business Owners and Employers

Employees and Job Seekers

1. Q. Are you looking for a job?
   A. In today’s changing job market, looking for a new job can be frustrating and maddening. California’s one stop career centers are in your local communities to help you with exploring job options, searching for job openings, getting your resume and interviewing skills ready, finding the right training classes for you and many more services. Visit the EDD's job seekers site or go to a one-stop career center near you.
   
   CalJOBS^SM is California’s no-fee Internet job search database. Search over 1.8 million job listings across California. Scan jobs for occupations of all kinds. Enter your resume for prospective employers to review.
   
   If you are looking for an on-the-job training program with classroom instruction, California’s apprenticeship program may be the ticket for you. Choosing from over 800 occupations including construction, heating & air technicians, etc.
   
   In addition to understanding today’s job market, you may want to learn about health, safety and fair labor practices in your workplace with many different industries. Visit the Department of Industrial Relations for information on your search for a safe, healthy, and fair workplace.
2. Q. What are the hot job occupations?
   A. To help you make your career decisions, EDD is a great source for information on what jobs will be in high demand. You may also receive information on the training or education requirements for each of these hot occupations in California. Go to California - Fastest Growing Occupations for more information on hot jobs or visit a one-stop career center near you.
3. Q. How do I improve my chances of being hired?
   A. Exploring career and job options, getting job ready, gaining tips on completing job applications and resumes, and improving your interviewing techniques are all ways in which you can improve your chances of being hired. California’s one-stop career center system can help you in any of these areas. There are resources on-line at the EDD's job seekers Web site, or go in to a one-stop career center near you.
4. Q. Are you currently working and do you know your workplace rights?
   A. There are many laws that are in place to protect the well being of workers. To help you get familiar with your rights to a safe, healthy, and fair workplace, obtain more information from the Department of Industrial Relations.
5. Q. Have you been injured on the job?
   A. When you are injured on the job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. To help you through this system, go to the Division of Workers’ Compensation for information on what you and your employer’s responsibilities are for workers’ compensation benefits.
6. Q. Have you been injured outside of your workplace?
   A. You may be eligible for disability insurance benefits if you are unable to work due to a non-work related injury, illness, pregnancy, or childbirth. See the disability insurance and the claim forms page for more information.
7. Q. Are you losing a job?
   A. Are you unemployed or working less than full time? If you are ready, willing, and able to work, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. See the unemployment benefits and the claim forms page for more information.
   
   When you lose a job, you are entitled to general termination rights. One of these rights are proper and timely receipt of your last paycheck. If you believe your paycheck was not adequate, you can file a wage claim with DIR. Go to the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement for more information on your termination rights.
   
   Are you a part of a company closing or a massive layoff? If you would like to find out if you are eligible for job training courses and intensive job search assistance, visit job seekers and training services or a one-stop career center near you.
   
   To help you return quickly to the job market, California’s one stop career centers are in your local communities to assist you. Staff are ready to assist you with exploring job options, searching for job openings, getting your resume and interviewing skills ready, finding the right training classes for you and many more services. There are computers available to you to work on your resumes or research job openings. Visit the EDD's job seekers site or go to a one-stop career center near you.
8. Q. What do I do if my employer is not withholding payroll taxes from my paycheck?
   A. If your wages and payroll deductions are not properly reported by your employer, this may delay or prevent you from collecting benefits that are entitled to you when you lose a job or are injured on or off the job. The Employment Development Department is responsible for investigating businesses that avoid payroll taxes. If you think your employer may no be withholding payroll taxes from your paycheck, please complete the Lead Referral/Complaint Form DE 660 and you may submit the form in the following ways:
   
   Telephone: EDD toll-free fraud hotline - 1-800-528-1783
   Electronic mail: WIASFP@edd.ca.gov
   Fax your form: 916-464-1020
   Mail your form: EDD/UEO - 10949 Trade Center Drive, 2nd Floor
   Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
   
   Any information that you submit will be considered confidential and the EDD will protect the identity of any person reporting fraud. Visit EDD more information on fraud and EDD’s fraud prevention programs.
9. Q. Are you a farm worker looking for a job?
   A. Throughout California’s agricultural areas, there are EDD staff available to help you with finding job openings with the harvests in the area. If you are interested in looking for a different job, staff will assist you in finding the right training classes and searching for the right job opening.
10. Q. Are you a farm worker and do you know your workplace rights?
    A. Whether you are a member of a union or not, you are entitled to certain workplace rights. The Agricultural Agricultural Labor Relations Board is in California’s agricultural areas to assist you with your rights.
11. Q. Are you a young worker looking for a job?
    A. Today’s California youth are the highly skilled and productive workers for tomorrow. For information on how to set educational goals, research career plans, search job options and job openings, visit the EDD's youth site or go in to a one-stop career center in your local community.
    
    In addition to help on searching for the right part time job, you may want to learn about health, safety and fair labor practices in the workplace with many different industries. Visit eYoungworkers for information on your search for a safe, healthy and fair workplace.
12. Q. Are you a senior looking for a job?
    A. In California, age discrimination laws cover workers age 45 and over. If you are seeking a career change or are looking to return to the job market, there are many programs and services available in your local community to assist you. Visit the EDD's senior workers site or a one-stop career center near you.
13. Q. Are you a person with disabilities looking for a job?
    A. To help you quickly enter the job market, California’s one stop career center system is in your local communities to assist you. Staff are ready to assist you with exploring job options, searching for job openings, getting your resume and interviewing skills ready, finding the right training classes for you and many more services. There are computers available to you to work on your resumes or research job openings. Visit the EDD's people with disabilities site or go to a one-stop career center near you.
14. Q. Are you a US veteran looking for a job?
    A. In California, US veterans receive priority in job and training course referrals. To help the men and women who serve our nation in the military, go to the EDD's veterans site for more information on the free services available to you or visit a one-stop career center near you.

Business Owners and Employers

1. Q. How do I start a new business in California?
   A. From finding small business loans to registering for permits to finding employees, the governor’s eBusiness center gives you quick information and starts you on your road to owning your own business and being your own boss.
   
   Two resources in the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency are the Employment Development Department Web site and the Department of Industrial Relations Web site. EDD will assist you with payroll tax reporting and payments, registering your business as a California employer, recruiting workers, training your workforce and provide free, on-line tax payment options. DIR offers free, online workplace health and safety recommendations to help you improve your workplace safety and minimize your risk to workers’ compensation claims.

2. Q. What are the competitive wages in my industry in my local area?
   A. When you are working on your business plan, it may be helpful to have information on the current wages in your industry in your local community. EDD is your source for this free information at OES Employment & Wages by Occupation.
3. Q. Any help with recruiting workers?
   A. California’s one-stop career center system is local to help you find the right workers for your job openings. Staff assist you with recruitment, screening and interviewing potential employees and offer many more services. Find the nearest one-stop career center .
4. Q. How about help when I need to reduce my workforce?
   A. CalJOBS^SM is California’s no-fee Internet job listing database. Search over 800,000 prospective resumes across California for your job openings. Enter your job opening online for prospective workers to review.
5. Q. Is there assistance to retrain my workforce?
   A. With today’s ever-changing technology, your workers need to refresh their skills. Your business may be eligible for grants to subsidize training for your employees. Go to the Employment Training Panel Web site.
6. Q. Is there assistance to help me understand workplace health, safety and fair labor practices?
   A. Every year, there are new laws governing overtime pay, safety and health in the workplace. To help you weed through these changes, go to the Department of Industrial Relations for more information.
   
   Free consultation services on health and safety practices in the workplace are available to you. To learn more about a consultation for your business, go to the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) , call toll free at 1(800)963-9424, or visit a Cal/OSHA area office near you.
7. Q. Is there local assistance to help me with my payroll tax reporting?
   A. Your business may keep up with the current employment laws, labor market conditions and labor laws through free EDD seminars. Go to www.edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Tax_Seminars/ to find the right seminar for you. For one-on-one consultations, you may also call the EDD Tax Call Center toll free at 1(888)745-3886 or visit your local EDD tax office.
8. Q. How do I report businesses that are not reporting payroll taxes?
   A. If you have information on a business that may not be reporting payroll and payroll taxes, go to EDD's reporting fraud or call toll free at 1(800)229-6297. Information will remain confidential and EDD will protect the identify of the person reporting fraud.
9. Q. What do I need to do if I am closing my business?
   A. As with opening a business, there are reporting laws with closing a business. For tips on what you will need to do as you close your business and how, visit EDD to see how they may assist you.
10. Q. How can I do business with California agencies and departments?
    A. The governor’s eBusiness center will help you with tips on maneuvering through the state contracting process.