| Workforce & Major Employers
The Santa Maria Valley continues to maintain a consistant manufacturing base as well as a significant amount of agriculture, which is the primary industry. Santa Maria has a trained, capable and ready workforce. Total non-farm employment and the creation of both farm and non-farm jobs in the Santa Maria Valley dominates the entire Northern Santa Barbara County labor market. Vandenberg Air Force Base, the largest employer in the region, plays an important role in the city's economic engine, employing over 6,623 people.
The largest employers include medical, government, agriculture, and manufacturing companies. Retail is also an important sector of the local economy. Education and Health comprises half of the largest employers in Santa Maria.
MAJOR EMPLOYERS
| Santa Maria Bonita School District |
1724 |
| Marian Medical Center |
1450 |
| Allan Hancock College |
890 |
| Santa Maria Joint High School District |
725 |
| City of Santa Maria |
647 |
| Orcutt Union School District |
586 |
| Betteravia Farms |
533 |
| C & D Zodiac Aerospace |
491 |
| Den-Mat |
361 |
| VTC |
340 |
| Major military facilities nearby: |
Vandenberg Air Force Base with 4,374workers |
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WORKFORCE PROFILE
Employment by Industry Sector
| Employment |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
| Industrial (Mining & Manufacturing) |
4,045 |
4,123 |
3,949 |
| Agricultural |
10,801 |
12,699 |
12,550 |
| Construction |
2,878 |
2,603 |
2,269 |
| Transportation, Communication & Utilities |
2,155 |
2,203 |
1,908 |
| Wholesale |
1,932 |
1,562 |
1,497 |
| Retail |
6,152 |
6,928 |
5,714 |
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
1,842 |
1,791 |
1,048 |
| Services |
13,057 |
12,647 |
11,026 |
| Government |
5,603 |
5,588 |
5,848 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance |
n/a |
n/a |
5,138 |
Average Salary Per Worker
| Employment |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Industrial (Mining & Manufacturing) |
44,907 |
47,700 |
45,592 |
| Agricultural |
19,326 |
19,560 |
21,563 |
| Construction |
40,756 |
43,003 |
49,287 |
| Transportation, Communication & Utilities |
38,344 |
39,810 |
41,104 |
| Wholesale |
48,822 |
50,705 |
46,703 |
| Retail |
25,802 |
26,609 |
26,979 |
| Finance, Insurance & Real Estate |
48,680 |
49,003 |
48,500 |
| Services |
27,071 |
28,955 |
29,480 |
| Public Sector |
39,391 |
41,277 |
42,867 |
| Private Sector |
29,721 |
31,127 |
31,740 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance |
n/a |
n/a |
38,974 |
Unemployment Rates
| Year |
Percentage |
| 2009 |
12.7 |
| 2006 |
7.3 |
| 2007 |
5.9 |
SUPPORT ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS
Workforce Resource Center
The Workforce Resource Center is a one-stop employment connection where numerous partner agencies have joined forces to assist job seekers in reaching employment goals by offering customized training, skill development, and business consulting to businesses, professional organizations and government agencies
Center for Employment Training
One of the country's leading employment training programs, providing job training to improve the lives of the neediest members of the community - farm workers, high school dropouts, welfare mothers and immigrants.
Vocational Training Center
Vocational Training Center Enterprises offers vocational and independent living skills training and employment to people with mental and physical disabilities from Santa Maria and the Central Coast. In addition to rehabilitation services they offer a wide range of business products and services including catering services, packaging and duplicating, bulk mail services, promotional buttons, pallet and crate manufacture, grounds maintenance, and janitorial services.
Women's Economic Ventures
Women's Economic Ventures (WEV) is dedicated to helping women throughout Santa Barbara County become economically self-sufficient through entrepreneurship and career development.
SCORE
The SCORE Association (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a resource partner of the Small Business Administration dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small businesses nationwide. Please call the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce for assistance with small businesses counseling and training.
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration provides small business training and counseling through a variety of programs and resource partners. This training resource is a cooperative effort of the private sector, the educational community and federal, state and local governments.
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