What Is the Local Hire Program in Los Angeles?

A Simple Guide for Contractors and Builders

If you’re working on—or planning to bid on—a public project in Los Angeles, you’ve probably come across this requirement:

“Must meet Local Hire goals.”

But what exactly is the Local Hire Program? Who does it apply to? And what do contractors actually need to do?

This guide breaks it down in plain English. No legal talk. No confusing acronyms. Just real information you can use right now.

Quick Summary

The Local Hire Program is a City of Los Angeles initiative that requires city-funded construction projects to hire people who live in LA—especially those who face barriers to employment.

The goal is simple:
Use public money to create public jobs for local residents.

When Does Local Hire Apply?

The Local Hire Program applies to most City of Los Angeles construction projects, especially those that meet these conditions:

• Funded fully or partially by the City of LA

• Require compliance with Davis-Bacon or State Prevailing Wage

• Over a certain dollar threshold (often $500,000+, but this can vary)

If your project is under a city department like Public Works, Transportation, Housing, or Sanitation, there's a strong chance it includes a Local Hire clause in the contract.

Program Goals (Simplified)

Here’s how the Local Hire Program breaks down its goals:

• 30% Local Workers
  Residents of the City of LA must work at least 30% of all project hours

• 10% Transitional Workers
  At least 10% of project hours (from within the 30%) must be from Transitional Workers—people who have barriers to employment

• Good Faith Effort (GFE)
  If you can’t meet the goals, you must show you tried through outreach, interviews, and follow-up

To learn who qualifies as a Transitional Worker, check out our full guide:
Who Qualifies as a Transitional Worker?

Why Local Hire Matters for Contractors

Failing to meet Local Hire goals can cause serious problems, including:

• Delays in project approval

• Withheld payments

• Extra documentation requests or audits

• Loss of future city contracts

Staying compliant is a big deal—but the good news is, there’s help.

That’s where LocalHire.Us comes in.

What Is LocalHire.us?

LocalHire.us is a career opportunity portal built specifically to support Local Hire and Section 3 employment efforts.

This isn’t just a job board—it’s a compliance tool that helps both contractors and job seekers meet local hiring requirements tied to Davis-Bacon, HUD funding, and City of LA mandates.

If you’re a contractor, LocalHire.us lets you:

• Post jobs for current or future projects

• Track hiring efforts to help meet Davis-Bacon and Section 3 goals

• Show proof of outreach to local and Transitional Workers

• Gain visibility with local job seekers and compliance partners

If you’re a job seeker, it allows you to:

• Browse construction-related jobs in your area

• Communicate directly with contractors working on local projects

• Find opportunities tied to community development and public funding

LocalHire.us works in partnership with housing authorities, developers, government agencies, general contractors, and subcontractors to bridge the gap between public project hiring goals and real community members looking for work.

It’s designed to help both sides meet their goals quickly, simply, and in one place.

Whether you're looking to fill a position or get hired, LocalHire.us makes it easier to meet local hire and Section 3 requirements—while creating meaningful opportunities in your community.

Explore the platform here: https://localhire.us

Who Counts as a Local Worker?

To meet the 30% local hiring goal, a worker must:

• Live in the City of Los Angeles (not just LA County)

• Provide proof of residency (lease, ID, utility bill, etc.)

This includes any trade on the job: laborers, electricians, plumbers, painters, apprentices—everyone.

Who Is a Transitional Worker?

To meet the 10% Transitional Worker goal, the worker must:

• Live in the City of LA, and

• Have one or more barriers to employment, such as:

  • Unemployed 90+ days

  • No high school diploma

  • Receiving public benefits

  • History with the justice system

  • Experiencing homelessness

  • Veteran status

  • Single parent

  • Entry-level apprentice

Full list and real examples here:
Who Qualifies as a Transitional Worker?

What Documentation Do You Need?

Once a local or Transitional Worker is hired, you must:

• Collect residency proof

• Document their TW status, if applicable

• Track their work hours by classification

• Submit monthly or quarterly reports to the city (depends on contract)

If you're unsure how to track or report hours, read this post:
Certified Payroll vs Prevailing Wage Reporting

Example

Westside Builders Inc. was awarded a sidewalk restoration contract through LA Public Works. They didn’t fully understand the Local Hire clause—until the city requested their first workforce report.

They visited LocalHire.Us, connected with a nearby WorkSource Center, and got help recruiting 4 Transitional Workers. They met their goal within a few weeks, submitted proper documentation, and passed a city review with no issues.

The takeaway? Start early, use resources, and document everything.

Final Checklist for Contractors

Before your next city job, ask:

• Does this project include a Local Hire clause?

• Have I visited LocalHire.Us to understand the requirements?

• Do I know how to verify local and Transitional Worker status?

• Am I tracking hours by worker type?

• Am I preparing reports before the city asks?

Got Questions?

We created DavisBaconSolutions.com to help contractors make sense of Davis-Bacon, Local Hire, and all the red tape that comes with public projects.

Need help figuring out your next step? Contact us here
Or go straight to the source: LocalHire.Us