Mission Statement

The Employment Training Panel provides financial assistance to California businesses to support customized worker training to:

• Attract and retain businesses that contribute to a healthy California economy;
• Provide workers with secure jobs that pay good wages and have opportunities for advancement;
• Assist employers to successfully compete in the global economy; and
• Promote the benefits and ongoing investment of training among employers.

Program Overview

ETP is a business and labor-supported state agency that funds the costs of vocational training. ETP is governed by an 8 member Panel. ETP is funded by a tax on employers, collected alongside the Unemployment Insurance tax. ETP receives no General Fund support.

• The program is funded by the Employment Training Tax paid by California employers, and targets firms threatened by out-of-state competition or who compete in the global economy.
• The program is performance-based. Employers must provide proof that training hours have been completed and trainees have been retrained in well-paying jobs for a specific period of time at a specified wage before ETP reimburses payment.
• Since its inception in 1982, ETP has reimbursed employers well over $1 billion for training workers in more than 80,000 businesses.
• For Incumbent Worker training, employers contribute to the cost of training. ETP also funds training for unemployed workers
• ETP provides additional incentive to assist small businesses and employers in high unemployment areas of the State.

Upgrade your workers' skills by creating a customized training program. For additional information or to complete a program orientation see Getting Started or contract ETP's Economic Development Unit at (916)327-4391.