This page contains definitions for some of the terms used throughout the website. Please feel free to reach out to us via the Contact Us page if you can’t find the definition you’re looking for or if you still have questions.

Age Group

The age group in which the participant falls at the date of program entry or the date of their first service or activity. CAAL-Skills reports participant age according to the following groups:

  • Under 25
  • 25-54
  • 54 and up

American Indian / Alaskan Native

Member of an Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation.

Asian

Person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent.

Barrier to Employment

For the purposes of CAAL-Skills reporting, a participant is considered to have a Barrier to Employment if that participant identifies or is identified as:

  • Basic skills deficient or having low levels of literacy
  • Having cultural barriers at program entry
  • A displaced homemaker
  • An English language learner
  • An ex-offender at program entry
  • Being within 2 years of exhausting Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • A current / former foster care youth
  • A homeless individual or runaway youth at program entry
  • Having been unemployed for 6 or more consecutive months at program entry
  • A low-income individual
  • A migrant / seasonal farmworker or a child of a migrant / seasonal farmworker
  • A single parent
  • Having a disability

Black / African American

Person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Career Service

Basic or individualized services intended to support participants in making informed career decisions and achieving personal employment goals, including:

  • Skills assessments
  • Job search
  • Employment assistance
  • Specialized assessments
  • Career counseling
  • Work experience

Credential Attainment

The percentage of participants to attain a recognized credential in or within 4 quarters after program exit.

Employment Rate

The percentage of participants employed in the 2nd or 4th quarter after program exit.

Ethnicity / Race

If the participant identifies as a:

  • American Indian / Alaskan Native
  • Asian
  • Black / African America
  • Hispanic / Latino
  • Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
  • White

Fiscal Year

According to Section 13290 of the California Government Code, the fiscal year (FY) begins July 1 and ends the following June 30. For example, FY 2019-20 is the period beginning July 1, 2019, and ending June 30, 2020.

Hispanic / Latino

Person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture in origin.

Industry of Employment

Derived from the first two digits of the employer's North American Industry Classification (NAICS) code. If a participant worked in multiple industry sectors during the reporting period, their total wages from all industry sectors are reported under the industry sector in which they showed the largest earnings.

Median Earnings

The median earnings of participants in the 2nd or 4th quarter after program exit.

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander

Person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

Participant Characteristic

The Interactive Dashboard and Workforce Data & Statistics pages display participant data aggregated by the following characteristics:

  • Age Group
  • Barrier to Employment
  • Ethnicity / Race
  • Sex / Gender
  • Veteran Status

Participant Region

The Regional Planning Unit associated with the physical, mailing, or billing address of the participant, depending on availability within the partner source data.

Participants Exited

The percentage of participants to cease participation in the program in the specified fiscal year for any reason, regardless of completion status.

Participants Served

The total number of participants in the selected program in the specified fiscal year.

Provider Region

The Regional Planning Unit associated with the physical address of the service or activity provider.

Regional Planning Unit

In support of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), California is divided into 15 Regional Planning Units (RPUs), or regions, for the purposes of regional economic analysis. The RPUs are:

  • Bay Peninsula
  • Capital
  • East Bay
  • Inland Empire
  • Los Angeles
  • Middle Sierra
  • North Bay
  • North Central Coast
  • North Coast
  • North State
  • Orange
  • San Joaquin Valley
  • South Central Coast
  • Southern Border
  • Ventura Regional

Service Type

CAAL-Skills distinguishes between the following three service types:

  • Career Service
  • Supportive Service
  • Training Service

Sex / Gender

Either the gender the participant identifies as or the sex assigned to the participant at birth, depending on availability within the partner source data.

Supportive Services

Services provided to encourage program participation in addition to either career or training services. Such services are highly varied and include assistance with:

  • Childcare
  • Transportation
  • Medical care
  • Housing
  • Technology
  • Personal counseling

Training Completion

The percentage of participants enrolled in an education or training program who attained a recognized postsecondary credential, secondary school diploma, or recognized equivalent during participation in or within one year after exit from the program.

Training Service

Services provided to prepare participants to enter the workforce and retain employment, including:

  • On-the-job training
  • Skill upgrading and retraining
  • Entrepreneurial training
  • Adult education and literacy activities
  • Occupational skills training
  • Registered apprenticeship training
  • Career technical education
  • Job readiness training

Veteran Status

If the participant identifies as a veteran of the armed forces.

White

Person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

Workforce Program

The CAAL-Skills data system includes participant data from the following programs:

  • CalFresh Employment and Training
  • Career Technical Education
  • Incumbent Worker Training
  • Prison to Employment
  • State Certified Apprenticeship
  • Trade Adjustment Assistance
  • Welfare-to-Work
  • Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I: Adult
  • WIOA Title I: Dislocated Worker
  • WIOA Title I: Youth
  • WIOA Title II: Adult Basic Education
  • WIOA Title III: Wagner-Peyser
  • WIOA Title IV: Vocational Rehabilitation