Moorpark College President Says Ventura County’s Future Workforce Is Already Here

Dr. Julius Sokenu argues that strengthening Ventura County’s economy starts with helping local adults gain new skills, credentials and career pathways.

Ventura County employers continue to need skilled workers in fields such as:

• healthcare
• biotechnology
• cybersecurity
• education
• engineering
• emerging technologies

According to Moorpark College President Dr. Julius Sokenu, part of the solution may already be living here.

In a recent Ventura County Star opinion column, Sokenu makes the case for investing more heavily in adult learners age 25 and older — including parents returning to school, workers whose jobs have changed or disappeared, and experienced employees adapting to new technologies.

Moorpark College enrolled a record 4,849 students between ages 25 and 50 during the 2024–25 academic year, highlighting the size of this often-overlooked workforce pipeline.

Sokenu argues that serving these students effectively requires colleges to rethink the traditional educational model. Two priorities he emphasizes are:

•  credit for prior learning, which recognizes skills gained through employment, military service and professional certifications

• flexible scheduling that accommodates work and family responsibilities.

His broader point: as Ventura County faces an aging population and a tighter labor pool, economic development cannot rely solely on attracting workers from elsewhere. Helping local adults retrain, advance and move into high-demand careers could strengthen both the workforce and the regional economy.

Read Dr. Sokenu’s full opinion column in the Ventura County Star for his perspective on building Ventura County’s future workforce from within.