Survey Shows Aging Work Force
The San Gabriel Valley has a large work force of older administrators, engineers and other skilled professionals whose average age is 45, according to a Caltech survey of valley corporations that employ more than 300 workers.
This means that companies and cities should begin to train and promote minorities, women and younger workers as replacements, Caltech researcher Leslie Yotsuya said.
The survey results were presented to the San Gabriel Valley Commerce and Cities Consortium at its first Economic Outlook Conference last week in the City of Industry.
Begun four years ago as the San Gabriel Valley Image Project by three city managers concerned about the valley’s lack of identity, the consortium has grown into a city-corporate partnership that drew 250 people to the conference last week.
The group has grown to 10 cities and 11 companies with an annual operating budget of $100,000.
“We’re not a household word, but now we’re becoming known,” said Rick Zimmer, the consortium’s executive vice president.
The consortium has been working to carve out recognition in the business community for the San Gabriel Valley. As part of that effort, the group mailed 6,000 copies of its first newsletter.
A business outreach team has been formed to meet with businesses considering leaving the valley. The team will try to persuade businesses to stay or help them relocate within the San Gabriel Valley. In addition, the consortium plans to compile economic, demographic and other information.
“Overall, we want to build this group so we have the economic resources to go out of this valley and market it statewide, nationally and even internationally,” consortium president Blain Fetter said.
