According to a report by Ronald K. Matthews, Pasadena residents worked more than 141,000 hours and earned $6.76 million in wages and benefits on 10 construction projects tracked by the city from January 2020 through August 2026.
“The numbers show that local hiring is about more than simply counting how many Pasadena residents get onto a construction project,” said Ronald K. Matthews. “Across these ten projects, Pasadena residents have generated more than 141,000 hours of work and approximately $6.76 million in wages and benefits. The next step is strengthening the pipeline—engaging contractors earlier, connecting more Pasadena residents to apprenticeships and union opportunities, and consistently tracking the hours, payroll and career opportunities that remain in our community. Today’s EdTech discussion is an opportunity to look at what is working, identify where we can improve, and continue building a stronger local workforce system.”
The report counts 288 Pasadena resident placements among 5,127 placements across the projects. Residents accounted for 5.62% of placements but 13.33% of hours worked, a difference the report says shows why worker counts alone do not capture the extent of local participation.
The figures represent placements on individual projects, rather than a count of distinct people. A worker who served on more than one project could appear more than once.
Heritage Square South recorded the most Pasadena resident placements, with 90. The Huntington Health medical office project generated the most wages and benefits for Pasadena residents, at nearly $1.4 million. Other projects reviewed include supportive housing developments, medical offices and the Pasadena Central Library renovation.
Across all 10 projects, workers logged more than 1 million hours and earned $64.37 million in wages and benefits. A broader local-area category, which includes workers beyond Pasadena, accounted for 2,262 placements and $28.24 million in wages and benefits. The report says its geographic categories overlap and should not be added together.
The report was prepared by Matthews in coordination with the city’s Economic Development Division. The report recommends tracking hours, pay, retention and advancement into apprenticeships alongside placement totals.
It also calls for earlier coordination with contractors to identify opportunities for qualified Pasadena residents.
The report applies an illustrative multiplier to Pasadena workers’ compensation to estimate $11.5 million in broader economic activity. It cautions that the multiplier has not been verified specifically for Pasadena; the $6.76 million in reported wages and benefits is the documented figure.
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