The nonprofit Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County has created a new website, called the Employer-Talent Connection Resource, to “help organizations on the Central Coast to retain and attract employees from inside and outside of San Luis Obispo County.”
“In a time when unemployment rates are changing rapidly due to COVID-19, this unique resource will serve both local government and private organizations, while also enabling prospective employees of all occupations to search for career paths and opportunities,” the EVC said in a news release.
The resource includes a mapping tool to identify businesses by region and industry sector as well as company contact information and “a wide range of information about living and working in the Central Coast,” the release said.
Via the “Work” tab, site users can find lists of companies in the following industries: building and design; energy; goverment, health services; manufacturing; technology and education; tourism and wine and agriculture.
The Employer-Talent Connection Resource includes links to the company’s websites and career pages with job listings, as well as tabs for five job portals with local employment postings — slojobs.com, indeed.com, linkedin.com, glassdoor.com and ziprecruiter.com.
“One of the biggest hurdles of locally growing companies and head-of-household jobs is attracting and retaining talent,” said Michael Manchak, EVC president and CEO. “Prospective employees are challenged to identify remarkable companies and job openings in our region, and to create connections.
“Growing companies and jobs requires linking employers with a talent pool, and Employer-Talent Connection Resource is designed to support this need.”
New SLO County job site offers work, lifestyle resources
In addition to “Work,” the Employer-Talent Connection Resource includes “Live,” “Explore, and “What’s Happening” sections.
According to the website, San Luis Obispo County has an average commute time of 20 minutes and more than 300 days of sun, and the region consistently ranks highly in quality of life surveys.
Median home prices currently range from about $510,000 in Paso Robles to about $715,000 in San Luis Obispo, the site says.
The site also notes San Luis Obispo County’s acclaimed wine country and outdoor activities including parks, trails and beaches.
“EVC is providing resources to the business community that will make a difference in what matters most now and in the future,” said Jolie Ditmore, EVC board chair. “This site connects talent with employers, showcases local companies and raises the profile of our region.”
Online resource could raise region’s economic profile
Loreli Cappel, the EVC’s senior project manager, said the new resource is different from job portals and other career-related resources because it offers a comprehensive picture of the community’s employment market and lifestyle options.
Some tech employers, for example, have faced difficulties hiring for top talent for positions requiring more experience, Cappel said.
Prospective employees may be under the impression the Central Coast is too limited economically or they don’t know which job options might be available to them in the future, Cappel said.
She said the Employer-Talent Connection Resource will help prospective employees mitigate the risk of relocating to the Central Coast for a new job.
“People considering a job here from out of the area (matching the talent requirements of a posting) might not accept because they don’t know what else is available in the community, say if the job didn’t work out,” Cappel said. “The resource provides lists of all of companies in different sectors and communities around the county so they have an accurate picture of the employment options here. And the housing costs are half the price of the Bay Area, for example, and the quality of life is great without traffic.”
The EVC, established in 1994, works to stimulate the region’s economic vitality “by creating jobs, fostering investment, and promoting business.”
The Employer-Talent Connection Resource is sponsored by Noreen Martin and Martin Resorts, Clever Ducks and Your People Professionals.
To access the Employer-Talent Connection Resource website, go to www.SLOcountyWorks.com.
©2020 The Tribune (San Luis Obispo, Calif.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
