The Orange County Community Foundation’s report highlights Top Job-Growth Sectors and Keys to Workforce Investment
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF), one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing community foundations, unveiled today the inaugural 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report. The first report of its kind by the foundation identifies issues, barriers and opportunities for economic growth and prosperity across industry sectors in the region, with the educational pipeline as the most critical piece of the infrastructure. The analysis evaluates the regional economy, identifies future job and wage engines, and guides strategic workforce development investments through 2035.
Produced in partnership with Coast Community College District, Orange County Department of Education, Orange County United Way and OC Pathways, the report provided the following insights on job growth leaders:
The report also recommends six essential keys to workforce investment for the region, developed by an inclusive collaborative of business, labor, government, and community leaders:
The report provides findings of a study led by Wallace Walrod, Ph.D., Managing Partner of Tech Coast Consulting Group and Chief Economic Advisor to the Orange County Business Council. Walrod used the state’s 2025 California Jobs First (CJF) Blueprint as the analytical framework to assess Orange County’s current and projected economic landscape. The CJF initiative is the state’s first comprehensive, “bottom-up” economic development strategy, designed to foster sustainable, equitable, and resilient growth.
“The 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report makes one thing clear: The educational pipeline is Orange County’s most valuable infrastructure,” said Cathleen Otero, OCCF’s Chief Operating Officer. “This data provides the roadmap to ensure that Orange County continues to be a global leader in innovation. By aligning strategic investments in education with business sectors, we are engineering a future where every resident has a pathway to prosperity.”
View the complete report: 2026 Orange County Economic Opportunity Report. To learn more about the Orange County Community Foundation and how you can make a difference, visit oc-cf.org.
About Orange County Community Foundation
The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) transforms our community’s heartfelt intention into greater impact for good by working with local donors and nonprofit partners as an expert advisor and innovator. We serve as a resource for individual and family philanthropists, facilitate grant and scholarship programs, and lead community-based initiatives. OCCF’s Vision 2030, a five-year strategic plan, is designed to amplify giving and support donors’ philanthropic goals as well as address critical needs in Orange County. Since 1989, OCCF has granted more than $1.25 billion in Orange County, across the country, and around the world. For more information, visit oc-cf.org or call (949) 553-4202. Be a part of our conversation on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. View OCCF’s 2025 annual report here.
