The Future is Working: Driving Economic Opportunity through Education and Workforce Development

Thank you to everyone who joined for the launch of the 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report!

Key findings from the inaugural report were presented by Dr. Wallace Walrod, Chief Economic Advisor for the Orange County Business Council (OCBC). The event featured data, strategic recommendations, and a panel discussion with local experts exploring how education and workforce systems can power a more equitable and resilient Orange County.

Orange County’s future economic vitality is inextricably linked to the strength and alignment of its educational talent pipeline to meet future talent demand. In an era defined by rapid technological change and evolving workforce demands, the journey from early education through postsecondary attainment (PK–16) functions as critical economic infrastructure.

The 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report provides a detailed data analysis and workforce investment strategy to build a more equitable, resilient, and prosperous Orange County economy and workforce.

Ultimately, this landscape analysis serves as a navigational chart, identifying the high-wage peaks of the innovation economy and the high-demand bedrock of Orange County’s service sectors.

By strategically aligning regional workforce investments to connect these economic destinations with the region’s educational pathways, Orange County can build an economy that is not only resilient and competitive, but one that offers a tangible promise of mobility and prosperity to every resident.