Employment

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

VENTURA COUNTY'S ECONOMY once depended primarily on oil and agriculture. Today, the economic base is broad, even though agriculture is still a major contributor. Aside from federal, state and local government, the largest employers are in biotechnology, healthcare, health insurance, telephone services and equipment, banking and education. The Highway 101 corridor continues to attract many high-technology industries, the Port of Hueneme still unloads manufactured goods and bananas from ships while sending citrus and other products overseas and the Navy maintains its important presence at Point Mugu and Port Hueneme. No wonder Ventura County leads the economic recovery, with one of the state's lowest unemployment rates. County industries that continue to add jobs are natural resources and mining, transportation and warehousing, healthcare, federal and county government.

Ventura County's Job and Career Centers (JCCs) provide employment services to job seekers and employers at eight locations throughout the county. These employment specialists help job seekers of all ages find a job, create an employment action plan, as well as access training and education information. In addition, the JCCs offer valuable career workshops that are open free of charge to all job seekers. Call (800) 500-7705 or access http://www.venturacountyjcc.org.

JOB SEARCH
The Internet is a great resource to explore jobs before you relocate. Because of the large amount of high tech and governmental activity in and around Ventura County, there are good jobs to be found. Search tools like http://www.job.com, http://www.indeed.com, http://www.careersingovernment.com, http://www.careerbuilder.com http://www.monster.com and http://www.Wipdog.com, are excellent starting points.Many job sites offer advice on how to format your resume to maximize your job search online. But while online googling can give you a feel for available jobs, nothing replaces a face-to-face interview. Plan on scheduling a trip to the area to confirm your job before you make the big move. In addition, since many locations in Ventura County, especially along the Highway 101 corridor, are within commuting distance to Los Angeles and Hollywood, including these areas in your job search might maximize your chances to find the best fit for your skills.