Transportation Jobs Coming to Los Angeles

Yesterday, Los Angeles County officials approved a plan which will create thousands of new transportation jobs using a voter-approved tax. If you’re looking to find a transportation job, they’ll be giving special hiring consideration to applicants living in areas of high unemployment. Says LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, “We are demonstrating that we are serious about job creation and job opportunity, and jobs that are good-paying jobs with benefits that support families.”

According to the plan’s specifications, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be authorized to negotiate labor agreements. As part of the negotiations, at least 30% of the new hires have to live locally, which will help strengthen the Los Angeles community. So, if you’re interested in one of these jobs, consider moving to this area if you don’t live there already! In addition, at least one in ten must be from an area that was hit hard by the recession, with social problems such as homelessness. Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, says, “What we stand for today is good jobs, good jobs, good jobs, and it’s not enough to say we’re going to create jobs. We want them for the people who need them most in our region.”

The construction industry was hit especially hard in California and across the country, and this new employment plan could help some of these out-of-work contractors find a new construction job that provides a stable, livable income and benefits, since Metro jobs are available not just for bus drivers and train operators, but also workers who will help expand the public transit system.

Interested in finding out more about the thousands of new jobs coming to LA? Check out this article by the LA Times.