Labor Market Update
Lockdown impacts SB County/IE jobs market
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The COVID-19 lockdown drove up unemployment rates in San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire as 2020 drew to a close. Across the two-county region, the leisure and hospitality sectors recorded the biggest job losses – down 8,600 from November. Of those, restaurants and drinking establishments represented 7,600 lost jobs, as even outdoor dining was halted. On the plus side, professional and business services added 2,400 jobs, while education and health services added 1,500. Click here for the complete Inland Empire jobs report for December.
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Message from the Chair
Your source for Labor Market Intelligence
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Even in unpredictable times such as these, there is no more predictable indicator of economic health than the labor market. That’s where we come in – as your source for local labor market intelligence. Every month – in this newsletter and on our website – we will provide you with the most comprehensive information available on San Bernardino County employment trends. Along with the support services we offer businesses on a regular basis, we hope this information helps you prepare for the recovery ahead. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you. For more on our services, please visit our website.
Phil Cothran, Chairman, San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board
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Prison 2 Employment: “We need someone in our corner” |
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Tom Amberson had college degrees and plenty of work experience, but a felony conviction and nearly six years in prison made him unhirable in the eyes of many would-be employers. “I applied for lots of jobs, but kept getting ‘no’s’ along the way. It’s so discouraging,” says Amberson, who found life after incarceration every bit as challenging – and in some ways, even more so – than his time spent behind bars. That is, until Goodwill Industries took him under his wing and, with the support the state’s Prison to Employment Initiative (P2E), provided him the pathway to rebuild his life at age 65. For more on P2E and WDB's work in helping formerly incarcerated individuals live independent lives, click here.
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Meet our new Workforce Development Board members
Please join us in welcoming our four new WDB Board members: Jimmy Elrod, Special Representative for the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters (Labor Organization Representative); Louie Lopez, Business Agent for Iron Workers 433 (Joint Labor Management Representative); Lina Montez, Office Manager for Go Pallets Inc. (Local Business Representative); and Orlando Acevedo, Director of Business Development for the Town of Apple Valley (Economic and Community Development Representative).
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March 1 marks the formal launch of WDB's partnership with the Tech Quest Apprenticeship Program, Clark University and Public Consulting Group in helping displaced workers, veterans and the underemployed get the skills they need to start their own businesses. The 8-week online business and entrepreneur training program – called CE-Oh! – primes participants for success, offering timeless skills for the modern worker. CE-Oh! consists of e-Learning modules, Guided Application Sessions, guest speaker events, and other group activities. At the end of the 8 weeks, participants who have successfully completed the CE-Oh! program will be prepared to take the Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) certification exam. |
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Making Recycling Safer, One Commercial Sorter At A Time |
When our Workforce Development Business Services representative, Eric Rivas, contacted Titus MRF Services, the company was struggling with hiring qualified staff. "When Eric found us, a number of our employees were retiring and we desperately needed to fill those vacancies," said Case Atchison, VP of Sales and Design for Titus Manufacturing Services.
Based in Fontana since 2001, Titus serves the commercial recycling industry by manufacturing optical sorting units for various applications. They hire specialized and highly experienced positions such as AutoCad specialists, structural and electrical engineers, certified welders and maintenance mechanics. Case says that what sets Titus apart from its competitors is two-pronged – its recycling and its partnerships. "We make trash safer, because instead of people hand sorting to separate trash from recyclables, we engineer and build optical sorters to help them automatically sort. We also value partnerships, because sometimes our competitors become our clients. While other companies may fall apart during hard times, we grow because of these partnerships we build," Case said.
Appreciating partnerships, Case was excited about the Workforce Development partnership with the Industrial Technical (InTech) Learning Center, Titus has been able to hire three certified welders with two more soon completing the program. "All passing with flying colors and very eager to get to work," Case said. Titus plans to hire a total of 14 welders certified through the current InTech program, and eventually train-up any welders who might be interested into service technician positions, which involves operating high-grade and complicated machinery.
Supporting local businesses with resources and tools is our priority and our Business Services team makes it easy for you to gain access to these tools that support a strong workforce in San Bernardino County. For more information on services and resources click here.
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Do you know about Workforce Development Board Committees? |
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San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board has three standing Committees in place to help us carry out our mission.
The Economic Development and Business Resource Committee focuses on business engagement in workforce, promoting board participation in demand sectors and developing links with employers in the region to support employer utilization of the system, and is currently Chaired by Boardmember Cinnamon Alvarez of A19 Artisan Lightning.
The Special Populations Committee is tasked with identifying resources for special population customers that may include, but are not limited to, veterans, individuals with disabilities, the re-entry population, and Native Americans, and is currently Chaired by Boardmember Jonathan Weldy of Meridian Land Development.
The Youth Committee assists with the coordination of youth programs and assists with the planning recommendations related to the provision of services to WIOA-eligible youth and is currently Chaired by Boardmember BJ Patterson of Pacific Mountain Logistics.
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Important message on our COVID-19 Response
The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department is working closely with our County partners to serve and protect our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing accurate, useful, and timely information is an important part of this effort.
Please visit CountyWire, the County’s primary source of public information, at https://wp.sbcounty.gov/cao/countywire/ to view the latest County Update. It provides an update on our vaccination efforts, a follow-up with the county’s first vaccine recipients, and a new tool for determining how long someone should self-isolate after being sick or testing positive.
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