The Advanced Transportation and Logistics sector has one of the highest expected growth rates over this decade, and a high concentration of well-paid, middle-skill jobs. Our region is home to the largest seaport system in the Western Hemisphere, handling over 40% of the nation’s inbound cargo containers. The port system alone employs over 160,000 workers through its web of high-capacity rail networks, embedded trucking and transport industries, and almost endless warehousing and distribution opportunities.
Aviation & Aerospace
When looking at the Advanced Transportation and Logistics sector, consider the exciting future of the aviation and aerospace industries. Southern California has long been a hotspot of innovation and manufacturing, from Lockheed Martin and Boeing to cutting–edge technology companies like SpaceX and AeroJet Rocketdyne. Although some jobs are—quite literally—rocket science, many jobs in the aviation and aerospace industries don’t require advanced degrees.
LA County colleges, including West LA College, Glendale Community College, and Mt. SAC College, offer training for a variety of jobs within the aviation industry. Colleges offering these programs have been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to train students for professional aviation jobs, and students train with state-of-the-art equipment in upgraded facilities.
The median annual wage across Southern California for careers in aviation ranges from $45,741 to $67,669 for maintenance technicians and flight attendants, with pilots earning more than $104,000 per year. Job growth is expected to be strong over the next several years, with more than 600 jobs opening annually across all aviation occupations in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Electric Vehicles Careers and Programs
Electric vehicles are transforming the automotive industry, boosting the economy by $20 billion annually and creating up to 147,000 jobs according to a recent nationwide study. The skills necessary to enter one of these fast-growing careers are as diverse as the jobs available. Anyone who values hands-on experiences doing maintenance or repair can find an electric vehicle career, as will those who value a team environment solving complex software problems. And with salaries ranging from $30K to over $100K per year, the future is bright for students entering this field.
There are four Los Angeles community colleges that offer electric vehicle training programs:
El Camino College
LA Trade Technical College
Long Beach City College
Rio Hondo College
As the sector grows, and with legislation like AB 841, which includes a requirement that electricians complete the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP), more programs will certainly come online. Follow the latest news on this booming industry from California Community Colleges here.
