A sure indication of the strength of the Inland Empire’s economy and labor force is a surge in professional services jobs – up 7,500 positions over the past year in fields such as legal, finance, insurance, cybersecurity and next-generation e-commerce.
Only logistics and hospitality registered more dramatic increases, reflecting an evolving business climate and growing opportunities for job seekers. Between February and March of this year, professional services employment in the IE rose by 2,100 jobs, according to state Employment Development Department (EDD) data.
It’s a trend that should continue. The Inland Empire’s prominence in the global supply chain, manufacturing and the healthcare industry – to name a few – has created a never-before-seen demand for professional services support.
At WDB, we are here to support these opportunities, with services and resources for job seekers and businesses. To learn more, please visit our website.
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San Bernardino County’s job market surges past pre-COVID levels |
Labor pool reached a record 1.02 million during March |
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San Bernardino County’s unemployment rate dropped to pre-pandemic levels in March, as payrolls increased by nearly 10,000 during the month to a record 976,000.
Unemployment fell to 4.3%, the lowest level since February 2020 and down from 5% in February. Led by continued growth in the region’s supply chain industry and a resurgence in hospitality-related businesses, payrolls across the County are now 24,000 above where they were before the COVID-19 lockdown – one of the strongest recovery rates in California.
Meanwhile, the total number of eligible workers also reached all-time high – 1.02 million. The labor pool in San Bernardino County has now exceeded 1 million five months in a row.
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Proud to help the Class of ’22 & beyond |
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Phil Cothran, Chair
San Bernardino County WDB
Tens of thousands of San Bernardino County high school students will graduate over the next month. Many will go on to college or receive training in a trade. Others will join the military. Others, still, will directly enter the workforce.
We wish them well, and look forward to their contributions as workers, professionals and members of our community.
One of the great things about our County – and one of the competitive advantages we offer businesses and employers – is our developing labor pool. More than 25% of our County population is under the age of 18. Through our partnerships and direct services, WDB is helping to prepare these young men and women for the careers of tomorrow.
High school graduation is an important step in that journey. We salute the Class of 2022!
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WDB ‘just wanted me to win’ |
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Johntayveon Green had been working various odd jobs when he came across the services WDB provides. Now, instead of a job, he has a career, as a Corrections Officer at the California Institution for Men in Chino.
“I had been doing a lot of stuff I didn’t want to do,” Green says. “I found out about (WDB) through a buddy, and good things started to happen.”
First, Green was introduced to a Certified Nurse Assistant program. He enjoyed it, but wanted to become a Corrections Officer, and on February 7, he graduated from the Correction Officer Academy.
“To this day, I thank (his Workforce Development representative) for everything,” Green says. “Growing up, I saw so many people who didn’t get the chance. (My representative) just wanted me to win. She was always a phone call away.”
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My first job was in high school. I grew up in Napa and it was all about the wineries, so one of my best friends and I got a job at Charles Krug winery in St. Helena. We would clean up after the wine tours, which ended with several tastings. We were also responsible for restocking the show room and the tasting bar. It was always interesting to see who simply could not handle their wine and a reminder to not be that person when we got older! Our parties featured wine instead of beer, which is normal if you grow up in Napa Valley. That job taught me the importance of work and that nothing is ever going to be handed to you. |
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Do you know anyone who wants a job
at America’s fastest-growing airport?
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Ontario International Airport, in partnership with WDB, will host a career fair on June 8 inside Terminal 1, 1940 Moore Way, Ontario. A number of airport vendors, business partners and cargo airlines will participate in the event, which will be held from from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
ONT has been named the fastest-growing airport in the U.S. four years running and is one of the Top 10 cargo airports in North America.
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Upcoming AJCC hiring events |
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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, May 19: West Valley AJCC, 9650 9th St., Suite B, Rancho Cucamonga. Register here.
Thursday, May 26: High Desert AJCC, 17310 Bear Valley Road, Suite 109, Victorville. Register here.
Thursday, June 2: East Valley AJCC, 500 Inland Center Driver, Space 508, San Bernardino. Register here.
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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.
Friday, May 20: California EDD releases its April jobs report.
Friday, June 3: Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its May U.S. jobs report.
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For archived videos of our free Business Services webinars, such as this one on civility, professionalism and respect in the workplace, click here.
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Click here to catch up on past editions of Workforce Update, WDB’s monthly e-newsletter and labor market intelligence report.
If you know others who would like to receive this timely and important information, please invite them to join our mailing list at info.workforce@wdd.sbcounty.gov.
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