On December 13, 2011, The Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 2011/498 adopting policy governing appointments to independent boards, committees, and commissions, and special districts. Included in this resolution was a requirement that independent bodies initially conducting interviews for At Large/Countywide seats provide appointment recommendations to a Board Committee for further review.

The Workforce Development Board implements federal requirements for programs to address the education, skills, and employment needs for a skilled workforce, and that lead to an increase in the skills and earnings of Contra Costa residents.

On March 14, 2016, the Family and Human Services Committee (FHS) accepted the Employment and Human Services Department's recommendation to decertify the then-current Workforce Investment Act local Board and re-certify a new board structure in compliance with the new Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). FHS approved these recommendations, and the Board did the same at its March 29, 2016 meeting.

Under new standards in WIOA (2016) and as adopted by the Board on March 29, 2016, the new Workforce Development Board structure is: a total of 23 required seats and 2 "optional seats", consisting of: 13 Business representatives, 5 Workforce representatives, and 5 Education and Training representatives as follows: (1) Adult Education/Literacy; (2) Higher Education; (3) Economic & Community Devl; (4) Wagner Peyser representative; (5) Vocational Rehabilitation. Also two additional/ "optional" seats that may be filled from any of the 3 categories above.