Workforce
Job Creation Success
Modesto has experienced significant job growth since the Great Recession. The Milken Institute's January 2018 report "Best Performing Cities: Where America's Jobs are Created and Sustained" ranked Modesto at #33 out of the 150 largest US Metro areas, moving up 40 places since 2016.
Workforce Built on Career and Family Values
Modesto has a diverse workforce of over 100,000 within its city limits. More than 30,000 residents have an Associate’s Degree or higher, and over 20,000 have a Bachelor’s Degree or higher, with approximately 7,000 holding graduate degrees. Modesto residents are known for their work ethic, career-minded values and attitudes and down-to-earth personalities. Many of Modesto’s youth go on to higher educations at premier institutions in California and the Country, and they are increasingly seeking opportunities to return to jobs and to raise families here.
Accessible, Practical Higher Education
Founded in 1921, MJC is one of the oldest community colleges in California with 2 campuses in the City serving approximately 19,000 students. The college provides 82 Associates Degree Programs, 54 Certificate Programs, and is planning to add Bachelor Degree programs in respiratory care soon. Their popular academic programs include nursing, business administration, social and behavioral sciences, child development, administration of justice, athletic training/sports medicine, medical assisting, art and natural sciences. It also provides a community education program that serves more than 8,000 participants. This fully accredited college provides full credit transfer to four-year colleges and universities, and is approved for training veterans as well as authorized to enroll non-immigrant alien students. The College houses the Great Valley Museum of Science and Natural History along with a planetarium.
California State University, Stanislaus (CSUS)
Located in nearby Turlock, CSUS has been ranked for over 10 consecutive years by Princeton Review as a top university for student life and academics, serving approximately 9,000 students. Money Magazine has ranked it as a top public value-add university. It provides over 189 majors, minors, concentrations and teaching credentials as well as 23 master degree programs, 6 graduate certificate programs, and Executive MBA program and a doctoral degree program in educational leadership. Popular majors include business administration, nursing, psychology, biological sciences, criminal justice, education, social work, and public administration.
University of California, Merced (UCM)
UCM is the newest University of California campus. UCM is path-breaking, serving a diverse Central Valley population that has not been well-served by research universities. UC Merced leads the UC system in the percentage of students from underrepresented ethnic groups, low-income families and students whose parents did not attend college. UCM employs a multidisciplinary learning approach featuring practical project application of state-of-the-art theory. Many graduates remain in the Valley, bringing new skills and critical capacities to the workforce.
UCM’s core strength is in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), with more than twenty undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Opening its doors in 2005, UCM now serves a student population of 8,000.
UCM’s vision is both practical and visionary, underscored by its Venture Lab entrepreneurial incubation program. Started at the main campus in the Summer of 2015, the UCM Venture Lab has fostered venture development both in traditional disciplines of information technology and biotechnology, but also decidedly non-VC pursuits in healthcare delivery, agricultural and food technology, and social services. UCM opened its Modesto Venture Lab center in June of 2018.
Workforce Development and Preparation
Stanislaus County Workforce Development
Stanislaus County Workforce Development is the one-stop shop for both job seekers and employers. StanWorkforce works with businesses to determine the needs of in-demand occupations and develop a skilled workforce that strengthens businesses and contributes to the economic success of the community.
Stanislaus County’s Economic Development Agency, Opportunity Stanislaus (OS) and the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) are directly addressing the strong need for workforce development through their joint initiative, VOLT University. VOLT offers a Career Accelerator program offering courses and one-day workshops focused on the soft skills necessary to innovate, produce and satisfy customers, as well as specific high-demand career track training programs such as Production Technicians and Maintenance Mechanics.
Modesto City Schools
Serving more than 30,000 students, Modesto City Schools offers a variety of specialized academics and programs of instruction at each of its seven high schools, including career technology programs and an award-winning robotics program. In addition, the District contributes to workforce preparation and development through its School to Career Program and Regional occupational Program.