April is Second Chance Month, a national recognition of the importance of helping individuals, communities, and agencies across the country appreciate their role in supporting the safe and successful re-entry of millions of people returning from incarceration each year.

At the WDBCCC, we are proud to be part of a new Bay Area program that aims to support this population and other under-served, under-resourced individuals while promoting economic growth. The Workforce Waterfront Coalition is an industry-led initiative that seeks to create a pipeline of ship maintenance and repair workers.

Register today for our virtual, no-cost Harassment Prevention Training session on Wednesday, April 19, from 10 a.m. until noon. California businesses with five or more employees must provide harassment prevention training every two years.

In this training, supervisors and managers will learn how keeping harassment out of the workplace protects them and the company from a lawsuit and creates a safe space and positive work culture for employees. Real-life stories about harassment in the workplace will keep you engaged.

Presented by the WDBCCC and the California Employers Association.

EASTBAYWorks Regional Organizer Michael Katz is conducting a breakout session at AMBayArea's Annual Summit on Tuesday, April 25, at the Chabot Space & Science Center.

Entitled "Hiring the Justice Impacted," the session will help participants understand how they can grow their workforce by recruiting and hiring non-traditional candidates, including formerly incarcerated individuals. Hear from community partners and manufacturers who have successfully hired and retained justice-impacted individuals.

In addition to other breakout sessions, talent expert Chris Czarnik will deliver the keynote address about "Winning the War on Talent."

If you or someone you know is looking for a job or a career change, send them to the annual Fair Chance Job & Resource Fair on April 26 at the RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., more than 70 employers will be on hand, many interviewing and hiring that day. Attendees can also receive pre-event resume coaching and professional attire.

"You don’t want to miss this one as this job fair will be like no other you have ever attended!" says Rochelle Baxter-Green, job developer with the Alameda County Social Services Agency.

Contra Costa County's unemployment rate was 3.9% in February. That's up from 2.9% in December 2022, the last reported figure for the county. Read the most recent state labor report for the Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley Metropolitan Division.