The measurement problem

A business may receive assistance and avoid layoffs for reasons unrelated to the intervention. A planned layoff may also be delayed rather than prevented. Without a clear definition, “jobs saved” can reward activity rather than impact.

Ventura built follow-up into the metric.

Ventura County’s historical layoff-aversion contract scorecards counted “jobs at risk and retained after completion of all employer services and at 6 weeks retention.” The same scorecard separately tracked at-risk employers served, incumbent workers trained, spending, and employer satisfaction. That creates a cleaner distinction between services delivered and the workforce outcome.

The current system still reports the outcome.

WDB Ventura County’s PY 2025-26 annual report identifies 297 jobs saved by preventing layoffs, alongside 1,132 businesses served and 4,077 business services. The public report does not provide the same detailed methodology as the older scorecard, so the historical documentation remains useful for understanding how a stronger verification approach can work.

A stronger WDB definition

A practical measurement ladder

1. Employer screened: potential risk identified.
2. At-risk jobs documented: employer confirms positions were reasonably expected to be reduced or eliminated.
3. Intervention completed: layoff-aversion service is delivered.
4. Jobs retained: identified jobs remain after the intervention.
5. Retention verified: jobs remain at a defined follow-up point.
6. Business survival: for intensive turnaround cases, check again at 6 or 12 months.