Redding Chamber CEO Expresses Workforce Participation Worries

Business leaders in Redding are expressing worries about the low levels of local workforce involvement.

Alyssa Bonillas, a labor market analyst at the California Employment Development Department, informed KRCR that by March 2025, Shasta County had seen an unemployment rate drop to 5.8% from 5.9% observed in February.

"It appears that the unemployment rate for Shasta County has remained relatively steady, with no significant sudden changes occurring lately," Bonillas stated.

Redding Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Jones told the Northstate’s News what he’s concerned about is how many people are part of the workforce.

We don't have many individuals in our workforce who qualify for it," Jones stated, then continued, "Individuals struggle to secure childcare, cannot rely on consistent transportation, and face economic barriers due to different issues like health conditions or disabilities.

EDD data As of March 2025, out of approximately 82,000 individuals in the civilian workforce, more than 77,000 people in Shasta County have jobs.

Jones mentioned that the count of individuals in the local workforce has decreased compared to previous years. He suggested that encouraging more residents to move to Redding could aid in addressing this shortage.

He suggested exploring resources such as the SMART Workforce Center or programs offered at Shasta College for individuals searching for employment.