Construction industry mirrors County’s population growth forecasts

San Bernardino County has experienced tremendous growth over the past several years, and with even more growth in the forecast, the demand for construction workers will continue to rise. According to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the County will add 440,000 people and 285,000 households between 2020 and 2050, significantly increasing the demand for housing. Meanwhile, commercial and industrial construction will need to keep pace with projected job growth (see Stat of the Month, below), reflecting the County’s abundant economic development opportunities.

Report: IE is California’s top job creator ...

A new report in the Southern California News Group shows that San Bernardino and Riverside Counties have created 20% of all jobs in California since before the pandemic. According to the report, the Inland Empire averaged 1.68 million workers last year, up 128,400 since 2019. The entire state added 640,300 jobs during that period.

Message from the Chair

... and why that doesn’t surprise us

William Sterling

WDB Chair

The media is quickly catching on to what, until recently, has been one of California’s most under-appreciated stories: The emergence of San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire as the place to be. We’ve been pointing to this for years. The rapid population growth. A labor pool of 1 million strong in our County alone. The rapid growth in key 21st century industries such as healthcare, logistics and supply chain, cybersecurity and technology.

Today, the IE is the 12th largest metro area in the United States and could soon pass Boston for the No. 11 slot. And while we continue to grow, our neighbors to the west, the Los Angeles metro area, is losing population.

The narrative has shifted: San Bernardino County and the IE are the new center of California. It’s a story we are proud to keep telling.

I was 12 years old when I stumbled into an opportunity to earn some spending money delivering the free community paper in Pico Rivera/East LA. I was already familiar with the streets on my route, and the work wasn’t complicated. Once a week, several hundred newspapers were delivered to my home. I folded, tied and bundled them. I then loaded one bundle at a time into a canvas bag on my bike and, starting with the farthest street, threw papers with an aim to land every paper on the porch. Then, once a month, I’d go door to door collecting a voluntary monthly fee for the free newspaper. Paperboys got to keep a percentage of what was collected.

My dad taught me his work ethic by example. As a California Highway Patrolman, he never missed a day of work. Neither did I. It didn’t matter if it was cold and rainy, I got the job done. I learned the value of taking advantage of an opportunity, the satisfaction you get from hard work, the self respect gained in doing your best, the wits to know what to do when a scary dog chases you and the courage to politely ask to be paid for the service you've provided.

Since then, I’ve learned new competencies with every new job. Now in my 60s, and in my 15th position, I know that humility, hard work, persistence, curiosity, coachability, problem solving and adapting to change are invaluable character qualities, highly valued in every job I’ve held.  

Monthly Labor Market Update

San Bernardino County’s unemployment rate held steady at 5% for the third straight month. Across the Inland Empire, steady month-over-month hiring gains were reported in logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, government and construction. Year over year, healthcare added 12,000 jobs in the two-county region – the largest increase of any sector.

Local employers will participate in several hiring events at the County’s America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) and other venues in the coming weeks:

Thursday, March 14, 2024: Hiring Event, East Valley Hiring Event at The Way World Outreach Church, 4680 Hallmark Pkwy, San Bernardino, CA 92407. 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Thursday, March 20, 2024: Resource event, San Bernardino County Resource Fair, Needles, CA 92363. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Thursday, March 28, 2024: Hiring event, High Desert Hiring Event at Destiny Christian Church,

14380 Amargosa Rd. Victorville, CA 92392. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

WDB hosts free virtual seminars throughout the week to help job seekers on topics such as interviewing skills, resume building and navigating the employment resources that are available. If you know of anyone who could use this valuable assistance, a calendar of upcoming sessions is available here.

In the meantime, here are some upcoming events and release dates:

Thursday, March 7, 2024: Virtual Business Workshop - Wage & Hour Laws.

Register here.

Friday, March 8, 2024: California Employment Development Department releases its January jobs report and revised labor force data for 1990-2023.

Friday, March 8, 2024: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its February jobs report.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024: WDB General Board Meeting and Budget Workshop, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Administration Office, 290 North D Street, Suite 600, San Bernardino, CA 92415

Friday, March 22, 2024: California Employment Development Department releases its February jobs report.

• WIOA Title I-financially assisted programs or activities are an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For federal funding disclosure information, visit: workforce.sbcounty.gov/about/ffd/