Workforce Need & Demand
Labor Market Data
The Orange County Center of Excellence completed a May 2026 labor market assessment for the proposed degree and issued a positive labor market endorsement for the program concept.
PositiveLabor market endorsed
4,770Aligned CA job postings
88%Request bachelor’s degree
15,835Annual LA/OC openings
Key Findings
- Regional labor market data indicate a supply-demand gap for workers with a bachelor’s degree aligned to Applied Human-AI Collaboration and Leadership.
- BLS and job posting data show the target occupations typically require or prefer a bachelor’s degree.
- Of 3,132 aligned postings that list education, 2,766 requested a bachelor’s degree.
- Entry-level wages for the target occupations exceed the Orange County and Los Angeles single-adult living wage benchmarks.
- Available posting data show bachelor’s wage premiums for Project Management Specialists and Management Analysts.
Codes & Target Occupations
TOP 0501.00
CIP 52.0201
- General and Operations Managers (11-1021)
- Project Management Specialists (13-1082)
- Management Analysts (13-1111)
Demand, Supply, and Wages
Core evidence from the OC COE report.
California Outlook
The three target occupations are projected to grow 6% statewide from 2024 to 2034, with 50,414 annual openings.
Regional Outlook
Los Angeles and Orange counties are projected to grow 3% from 2024 to 2034, with 15,835 annual openings.
Regional Supply
Related non-community college baccalaureate awards averaged 11,479 annually across LA/OC from 2021 to 2023.
Employer Education Signal
Among aligned postings with education data, 88% requested a bachelor’s degree, compared with 3% requesting an associate degree.
Orange County Wages
Entry-level hourly wages range from $34.98 to $40.33, above the $27.13 single-adult living wage benchmark.
Los Angeles Wages
Entry-level hourly wages range from $36.33 to $40.49, above the $24.03 single-adult living wage benchmark.
Occupational Detail
Projected openings and wage evidence.
| Occupation |
SOC |
LA/OC Annual Openings |
OC Entry Wage |
LA Entry Wage |
Bachelor’s Attainment |
| General and Operations Managers |
11-1021 |
8,825 |
$40.33/hr |
$40.49/hr |
33% |
| Project Management Specialists |
13-1082 |
2,753 |
$38.17/hr |
$37.50/hr |
47% |
| Management Analysts |
13-1111 |
4,256 |
$34.98/hr |
$36.33/hr |
44% |
| Total |
-- |
15,835 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
Conclusion
Positive - Labor Market Endorsed
The OC COE analysis concludes that the proposed degree demonstrates workforce need, positive employment projections, a regional supply-demand gap, and entry-level wages above the single-adult living wage benchmark in the region.
Source: Orange County Center of Excellence, Baccalaureate Program Labor Market Analysis for Fullerton College’s proposed Applied Human-AI Collaboration and Leadership BS, May 2026.