California’s News “Career Passport” Program Aims to Connect Workers to In-Demand Jobs
California is launching a pilot program for its new Career Passport, a digital tool designed to help workers connect with employers by highlighting their skills, training and work experience rather than relying solely on college degrees.
The pilot phase began June 17 and runs through Aug. 24 as the state evaluates four vendors competing to build the platform. Officials say the Career Passport will help qualified workers, including those without four-year degrees, gain access to in-demand jobs while making it easier for employers to identify talent.
The initiative is part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Career Education and reflects California’s broader effort to promote skills-based hiring. The digital tool will allow users to securely share verified records of their education, job training, military service, work experience and professional credentials with potential employers.
“We’re working to connect qualified Californians to employment opportunities they may have otherwise been overlooked for,” said Newsom. “California’s Career Passport will be a win-win for our workforce, ensuring that relevant skills, credentials and real-world experience are recognized, and that capable workers are not being filtered out simply because they lack a four-year degree.”
State officials say the Career Passport will combine traditional academic records, such as high school and college transcripts, with skills and credentials earned outside the classroom. The approach, known as a Learning and Employment Record, is intended to give employers a more complete picture of an applicant’s qualifications.
Labor and Workforce Development Agency Secretary Stewart Knox said the platform will help create stronger links between education and career opportunities.
“The Career Passport will create connected pathways that help workers and students gain the skills and opportunities they need to thrive,” said Knox. “California is committed to ensuring every person has access to family sustaining careers by building a workforce system that starts with the realities of workers, no matter where they begin.”
The program is being developed in partnership with the California Community Colleges system and will involve collaboration among state agencies, educational institutions, workforce organizations and employers.
Officials say the Career Passport builds on California’s workforce development efforts, including registered apprenticeships and earn-and-learn programs.
Secretary of State Weber: Measure to Limit Automobile Accident Insurance Payouts Makes It to Nov. Ballot
California voters will have the opportunity to decide on a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit certain compensation and attorney fees in automobile accident cases after the measure qualified for the November 2026 ballot, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber announced.
The initiative became eligible for the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election ballot on June 17 after supporters gathered enough valid signatures to meet state requirements. The measure is expected to be formally certified on June 25 unless it is withdrawn by its proponents before that date.
If approved by voters, the proposal would make several changes to how compensation is awarded in motor vehicle accident cases. Among its provisions, the measure would limit the fees attorneys can collect when representing accident victims on a contingency basis, requiring that victims retain at least 75 percent of any monetary recovery. The restriction would not apply to attorneys representing defendants.
The initiative would also increase the burden of proof for certain medical expenses claimed by accident victims and limit the amount that can be recovered for those costs. In addition, it would prohibit certain financial arrangements between attorneys and medical providers.
To qualify for the ballot, the measure needed 874,641 valid signatures, equal to 8 percent of the votes cast for governor in the 2022 election. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the initiative exceeded the threshold required to qualify through random sampling, a process that allows measures to advance if projected valid signatures surpass 110 percent of the required total.
A fiscal analysis prepared by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) and the Department of Finance found the proposal could produce annual savings for California trial courts ranging from millions to tens of millions of dollars. The savings would depend on how many motor vehicle accident lawsuits are filed and how quickly remaining cases are resolved.
The analysis also found the measure could increase Medi-Cal costs by millions to tens of millions of dollars annually because some accident victims may receive less compensation that would otherwise help offset health care expenses covered by the state program.
The initiative was submitted by proponents John Moffatt and Kurt R. Oneto. If certified later this month, the measure will appear before California voters in the November 2026 election.
