Learn about the growing importance of young workers needed in the marketplace, strategies small businesses can use to recruit them, and public policies to increase the pool of capable young workers 16 to 22 years of age when economist Dr. Mark Evans, emeritus professor from CSU Bakersfield joins host and SBDC director, Kelly Bearden on this week’s free webinar.

Bearden begins the webinar with a look at AI-related employment trends, key business updates, and available capital resources.

This marks the 364th episode of the “Webinar Wednesday” business series that provides news and information helpful to employers and business owners. The CSU Bakersfield SBDC provides free one-on-one help to small business owners. New and existing businesses can go to https://csubsbdc.com/ for more information or to sign up to meet with a business advisor at no cost.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Intro

00:42 What’s up today November 5, 2025

02:48 Economic Corner – Labor Market Shifts and Economic Snapshot

04:38 Labor Hoarding

06:05 Target CEO explanation for cutting 1,800 jobs

13:40 Subscribe to our CSUB SBDC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@csubsbdc

15:11 Kelly talks about the Business Turnaround Strategies Webinar with Ben Nicholson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uafh0C-CNSs&t=1420s

16:44 Kelly introduces Webinar Wednesday Resident Economist Dr. Mark Evans

17:43 Dr. Evans begins his presentation

17:57 Some Small Business Workforce Challenges

18:40 Young workers matter! And have upside

20:20 California Accountability Data (2024)

https://www6.cde.ca.gov/californiamodel/ccireport?&year=2024&cdcode=1563529&scode=&reporttype=schools

23:55 The Boy Problem: disengagement and drift

24:50 Navigating Uncertainty in Hiring Young Workers

25:17 Economics of “Screening” – “Moneyball” Strategy: Identify background characteristics highly correlated with desired outcomes.

https://www.nber.org/news/joseph-e-stiglitz-george-akerlof-and-michael-spence-won-2001-nobel-prize-their-analyses-markets

28:19 Some effective screens: Participation in exemplary programs

28:54 What’s working in the schools? KHSD ROC/CTEC

https://roc.kernhigh.org/

30:23 ROC/CTEC Outcomes: 2024-25 School Year

32:06 Some CTE Research Findings

34:58 What’s working after school? Boys & Girls Clubs of Kern County

https://www.bgckc.org/

35:44 Boys & Girls Clubs: California & Kern Impact

37:31 Boys & Girls Clubs Testimonials

38:06 What’s working in summer? R.M. Pyles Boys Camp

https://www.pylescamp.org/

38:22 2024 Pyles Camp: Parent survey

38:38 Some summer camp (and other summer program) findings

38:55 Why these programs work: Common elements

39:39 Increasing the pool of capable young workers: Policy recommendations

39:46 1. Increase Scale & Scope of CTE

https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ct/sf/documents/cteframework.pdf

40:18 Benefit Cost Analysis: CTE Academies (based on California Model)

https://www.wsipp.wa.gov/BenefitCost/Program/666

40:29 2. Expand CTE into elementary & middle school: Other nations do!

40:46 3. Expand scale of after-school and summer programs

40:57 A call to action: what we can do?

41:15 Kelly rejoins Dr. Evans for question and answer with attendees