County Will Help Connect Phillips 66 Workers with New Jobs, Including at the County
Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Holly Mitchell to mobilize a rapid response to support workers impacted by the upcoming closure of the Phillips 66 refinery complex in Wilmington and Carson and connect them with new job opportunities. The closure is expected to happen in the fourth quarter of 2025 and impact 900 workers.
“Many of these workers are highly skilled and have years of experience in jobs that demanded extensive training,” said Supervisor Hahn, who represents Wilmington. “We are going to mobilize teams from across our county departments to make sure these workers have the support they need as the refinery winds down operations and work with our labor partners to connect them with any additional training they need to get great new jobs. Employers would be lucky to hire these workers, and I am hopeful that many of them will end up with new jobs with the County.”
The motion passed today directs the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to report back in 60 days in writing with an action plan to assist workers impacted by the planned refinery closure with enhanced job training and job placement resources. This action plan will include opportunities for the County to hire workers to vacant positions in the Internal Services Department, Public Works, the LA County Fire Department, and other hard-to-fill positions.
“The closure of the Phillips 66 refinery creates a loss of stability for hundreds of skilled workers and their families in my district. I am proud to co-author this motion with Supervisor Hahn which helps ensure our communities do not have to choose between a clean environment and good jobs” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “I look forward to the action plan identifying ways affected workers are offered timely, family sustaining career opportunities, including hard-to-hire skilled positions that need to be filled within the county.”
Hahn’s proposal was inspired by her experience responding to the closure of Farmer John in the City of Vernon in 2023. Hahn spearheaded the County’s effort to support the more than 2,000 impacted workers with services, free job training, and job connections through a series of “Good Jobs Fairs” in partnership with UFCW Local 770, the Hospitality Training Academy, and other labor partners. Upcoming “Good Job Fairs” are already in the works for Phillips 66 workers.
“As we near the Phillips 66 refinery closure in 2025, the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity is ready to assist the impacted workers, support activation of our State and local workforce system, and partner with our labor and training colleagues to ensure immediate and expedited benefits and access to programs and hiring through Good Jobs Fairs that ensure a smooth and just transition,” said Kelly LoBianco, Director of the DEO. “This includes great jobs with the County of Los Angeles. We know how difficult these moments can be, and the region is coming together in solidarity.”