Orange County Launches Mobile Computer Lab for Job Seekers 

Orange County Launches Mobile Computer Lab for Job Seekers 
Caseworkers talk with a woman in search of work next to a County of Orange business and employment services bus parked for the day for scheduled appointments at the Rossmoor Library in Rossmoor, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Jack Bradley
2/9/2021
Updated:
2/10/2021

Orange County is hitting the streets with an initiative it hopes will more easily connect unemployed residents with jobs.

The one-stop mobile unit, which debuted in Seal Beach Feb. 9, trains and educates job seekers in Orange County, servicing youth, adults, dislocated workers, and businesses.

The Orange County Board of Supervisors partnered with the Orange County Development Board on the initiative.

“It is an honor to provide residents with the proper tools that will empower them to achieve the power of a paycheck,” Supervisor Donald Wagner said in a statement. “The OC One-Stop Mobile Unit will help people to explore employment options; we hope they find a brighter future as they enter the workforce.”

The lab-on-wheels offers career training, information on local hiring events, education assessments, case management, labor market information, access to support services, and more. It also allows job seekers to peruse employment ads, improve their resume-writing skills, and take online tutorials.

A County of Orange business and employment services bus parks for the day for scheduled appointments at the Rossmoor Library in Rossmoor, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
A County of Orange business and employment services bus parks for the day for scheduled appointments at the Rossmoor Library in Rossmoor, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Supervisor Doug Chaffee encouraged residents to take advantage of the unit’s offerings.

“The ... unit will offer an array of services to help residents with what they need to be successful in their job or business,” he said in a statement.

Services for businesses include recruiting, preemployment screenings, interviewing, and training.

The mobile unit will adhere to safety guidelines for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Staff and guests will be required to wear masks or face coverings in the unit, have their temperature checked, and stay socially distanced.

The unit has a 12-station computer lab, but will only be providing services for two individuals per appointment slot.

Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said the unit will give both employers and job seekers more convenient access to employment opportunities and services.

“Launching the mobile unit will give residents as far south as San Clemente more flexibility to take advantage of the services provided by the traditional OC One-Stop Center located in Garden Grove,” she said in a release.

Supervisor Andrew Do said, “The OC one-stop mobile unit will take these services to residents who may not have the time or means to commute.”

Each appointment is 45 minutes long.

The mobile center will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m

It will be parked in a different location every week, traveling from Seal Beach, Aliso Viejo, Foothill Ranch, Irvine, and La Palma.

Services are available by appointment only; no walk-ins.

For more information on the OC One-Stop Mobile Unit including how to book an appointment, visit the Orange County One-Stop Center website or call (714) 480-6500.