State of California Employment Training Panel

Program Overview

The Employment Training Panel (ETP) is a business and labor supported state agency that assists employers in strengthening their competitive edge by providing funds to off-set the costs of job skills training necessary to maintain high-performance workplaces. ETP is governed by an 8 member Panel; seven are appointed by the Governor and the Assembly and Senate leadership. The Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, or his/her designee, shall serve as ex officio, voting member.

  • The ETP program is performance-based, providing funds for trainees who successfully complete training and are retained in well-paying jobs for a specific period of time.
  • The program is funded by the Employment Training Tax paid by California employers, and targets firms threatened by out-of-state and international competition.
  • Since its inception in 1983, the ETP program has provided over $1 billion to train more than 660,000 workers in over 60,000 California companies.
  • Employers match training funds awarded by ETP for training existing workers, making these projects true public-private partnerships.
  • ETP also funds training for unemployed workers.
  • ETP prioritizes small businesses and employers in high unemployment areas of the State.
  • The program serves as the State's premier economic development tool, encouraging many companies to locate or expand in California with the assistance of ETP's job training funds.
  • Independent research has documented a return on investment of over $5 for every $1 in ETP funds spent on training.

Upgrade your workers' skills by creating a customized training program that meets your company's needs. ETP is here to assist you as you make your employees and your company more productive to meet global competition.