The Paradigm Shift: A Spotlight on a Regional Pathway to Workforce Access in Los Angeles

The California Community College (CCC) system remains a democratizing entry point into higher education, providing a critical on-ramp for millions of students pursuing associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways. As California moves toward its goal of 70% degree attainment by 2030, a target requiring more than 1.3 million additional educated adults,¹ the central role of community college has become increasingly clear. However, the full economic and social benefits associated with higher education are only realized when students complete a degree or certificate. This makes completion, not just access, a defining challenge that has ripple effects on gaps in workforce demand and economic mobility.

Ongoing gaps persist in aligning educational pathways with workforce demand, particularly in high-need sectors such as healthcare, where approximately 11.4 million Californians live in federally designated primary care shortage areas, with Black, Latinx, and American Indian communities disproportionately affected.² In response to both the scale of opportunity and the gaps in the workforce, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with The CEO Council and anchor funding from The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, created The Paradigm Shift,³ a regional initiative focused on strengthening alignment between education, workforce systems, and industry demand, while addressing critical workforce shortages across the region. Leading this effort are Devorah Lieberman, PhD, President Emerita of the University of La Verne, and Peter Kaufman, formerly of McKinsey, serving as Initiative Manager.