Above: Incumbent training at the InTech Center in Fontana is one of the many WDB-supported programs and resources designed to meet the demand for manufacturing jobs in San Bernardino County and across the region.

Manufacturing is a powerful economic driver for the region

The state of manufacturing is ... STRONG!

Each month, the Institute of Applied Research at Cal State University San Bernardino surveys manufacturers across the Inland Empire for a temperature check of the industry’s health. In September, the Institute’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) came in at 58.1, marking the 23rd time over the past 24 months that it had exceeded 50, indicating growth ahead. The Employment Index, a key component of the PMI, rose to an even more impressive 64.8, its highest level since 2018 and a strong indicator that hiring will continue at a robust pace.

The logistics sector continues to drive year-over-year employment gains across the county and Inland Empire, representing more than 25% of net payroll increases. Despite a slight uptick in the unemployment rate from July to August, San Bernardino County added nearly 4,000 jobs during the month. The total county labor pool climbed to 1.02 million, the second highest on record and more than 34,000 above where it was a year ago.

AJCCs are for businesses, too

Phil Cothran

WDB Chair

Many people think our three America’s Job Centers of California in San Bernardino County are for job seekers only. In fact, our AJCCs are an invaluable resource for employers looking for workers to meet their business needs.

Among the services businesses can tap into:

• Screening and recruiting job seekers, from entry-level workers to highly-skilled professionals.
• Access to veterans and returning service members, who can add value to your business.
• Labor market intelligence, including the latest on recruiting and wage trends.
• Access to training and education.
• Information on state and federal tax credits, specific to your business.

For more on our AJCCs, including locations and services, please click here. Or contact one of our Business Services Specialists directly.

My first job was as a library page in Whittier, where I grew up. I have had a life-long love of reading, so I thought “what could be better than working among books?” At work, I learned it was all about the Dewey Decimal System, the way in which libraries organize their volumes. All knowledge is divided into 10 groups and it all cascades numerically from there. (My favorite group was 800 to 899: Literature and Rhetoric.). It’s an easy system to learn, and I enjoyed the symmetry of it. 

A first job is where you learn to show up on time, to be reliable, to learn skills that you may not recognize at the time as having value and to be part of a team. I remember feeling that others were relying on me to be able to find THE book they needed, so I needed to shelve meticulously. All good stuff for a teenager. When I subsequently enrolled at USC, I looked for a part-time job and found myself at the gorgeous Doheny Memorial Library, where if you got your shelving and retrieving work done with time to spare, you could do homework undisturbed in a carrell in the upper reaches of the building. 

To this day I have a special affection for libraries and those who keep the books easily accessible. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to finish reading my latest book. It’s called “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks. It’s fabulous!

Meet Stephanie, future nurse

Stephanie Cortez addressed WDB at a recent board meeting to talk about the support she received through the Workforce Development Department. Financial and family issues forced her to quit college during the COVID-19 pandemic, but through WDB’s career services, she is back in training to become a home health care worker and, eventually, a nurse. “I’ve always wanted to work in health care, and now I’m on my way,” she said.

Stephanie Cortez, flanked by WDB Director Bradley Gates (left) and Chair Phil Cothran (right)

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

Thursday, October 20: West Valley AJCC, 9650 9th St., Suite B, Rancho Cucamonga. 9 a.m.-noon. Register here.

Thursday, October 20: Mall of Victor Valley, 14400 Bear Valley Road, Victorville. Noon-4 p.m. Register here.

Thursday, November 3: East Valley AJCC, 500 Inland Center Driver, Space 508, San Bernardino. 9 a.m.-noon. Register here.

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 available during the pandemic. 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:

Tuesday, October 18: Regional/Local Planning Meeting, Workforce Development Boards of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties (via Zoom). 9-11 a.m.; 2-4 p.m. Click here for more information.

Friday, October 21: California EDD releases its September jobs report.

Friday, November 4: Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its October U.S. jobs report.

Visit our YouTube channel to view archived videos of our Business Services webinars, such as this one on managing remote workers.