We Love Talent: Resources to Help You Find Your Perfect Match

Businesses need talent to succeed. When they have difficulty finding or retaining workers, they are unable to meet their full growth potential. We understand this reality, so we’ve created several resources to help Carlsbad businesses find the talent they need.  

“We talk with Carlsbad employers every day, and when we ask about challenges they are facing, we most often hear about talent, whether it be finding qualified workers, attracting talent from other regions, retaining employees or finding the next generation via internships,” said City of Carlsbad Economic Development Director Matt Sanford. “In response, the City has developed several programs to help alleviate these challenges.” 

These resources were developed to help business owners fill skills gaps, find qualified workers and tap into our region’s talent pipeline, which happens to be flowing thanks to several educational institutions in the area, an active network of business innovators and dedicated support services at the City. If you need new graduates, we have you covered. If you’re looking for veteran expert in your field, you’re in luck. And if you’re after interns, apprentices or students, we can help with that too.  

Recruiting Talent in Carlsbad 

How nice would it be to find talent in a pool of candidates who proactively express interest living here? Carlsbad’s Candidate Marketplace is a great resource to help find talent for those hard to fill positions. So far, more than 500 candidates – from around the corner and across the country – have built profiles on the marketplace. As a Carlsbad employer, you can access the platform and filter down to find the people with the qualifications you are looking for. Each profile includes the candidate’s industry, experience and when they are ready to make a move. Check it out at Carlsbadca.gov/findtalent. 

Upskilling Workers to Fill Gaps 

To ensure we keep our talent pipeline full, Carlsbad’s Job-Readiness Room provides free skills training to any local resident. The program, accessible at any Carlsbad library, or online, uses labor market and job posting data to determine the most in-demand skills for our key industries. It then aggregates courses to teach those skills, making any participant more qualified to enter or grow in a Carlsbad business.   

North County Educational Programs 

We’re lucky in that Carlsbad is surrounded by reputable educational institutions like Cal State San Marcos, UC San Diego and MiraCosta College that boasts a Technology Career Institute. All of these offer critical programs and certifications to help prepare students for our workforce, which means that Carlsbad has a steady, educated pipeline of graduates and skilled interns, ensuring they are ready to hit the ground running and make a positive impact in North County.  

It’s a win-win for our region: students gain valuable access to leading businesses and industries in the area, and owners can secure the future leaders of their company when they’re right out of school (read: no bad habits yet!). The programs offered by these institutions focus on a range of important local industries, from technology to healthcare, business and the arts. 

Other Regional Resources 

We know owners need qualified, skilled employees who align with your unique business culture. This need is reinforced by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC)’s 2024 Talent Demand Report, which illustrates an ongoing need for workforce training programs and internships that provide the education, hands-on experience and skills – across industries. That’s why the San Diego Regional EDC offers resources to strengthen the talent pipeline through funded internship programs as well as talent development, attraction and retention initiatives like San Diego: Life. Changing. and Advancing San Diego. 

Looking for an intern this summer? Apply to host fully-funded interns in computing, engineering and/or business interns sourced from Advancing San Diego’s verified programs, where they learn the industry’s most in-demand skills and glean valuable insights to bring to local companies like yours. 

Whether you’re searching for local recruits or in need of business support on a regional scale, there are plenty of resources available to help you navigate today’s competitive job market. And if you’re having trouble finding the right fit, visit carlsbadlifeinaction.com for more information on tools and programs for businesses and professionals in Carlsbad and beyond.  

We want to encourage you to reach out to the City’s Economic Development staff as well. They’re available to help connect you to the talent you need, so your business can succeed here.