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MAY 2024
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The economy of San Bernardino County and the Inland Empire (IE) was built, to a large extent, on the strength of its manufacturing sector. At its peak in the early 1970s, Kaiser Steel in Fontana employed more than 13,000 workers with high-quality jobs that drove economic prosperity across entire communities.
Today, manufacturing remains a powerful economic driver, accounting for more than 50,000 good jobs in San Bernardino County while fortifying the IE's role as a hub for global commerce.
According to projections by the California Employment Development Department, manufacturers in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties are expected to add 9,500 jobs during the current decade, a 10% increase. And research compiled for the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) by Lightcast indicates strong growth ahead for several manufacturing sub-sectors, including computer and electronic products, transportation equipment, and food and beverage products.
To help meet this demand, WDB is working with companies and organizations across the county to develop model training programs. Notable among these is the nationally renowned InTech Center, on the site of what once was Kaiser Steel. WDB is proud to support our manufacturing community through partnerships and initiatives that are building a stronger, highly-trained workforce. To learn more about the direct services and resources we provide for job seekers and businesses, please visit our website.
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Message from the Chair
Schools, cities, businesses working together to create career opportunities
William Sterling
WDB Chair
Among the more positive workforce trends we’ve seen in recent years are the growing partnerships between schools, cities and businesses. All across our county, you can find examples of these three pillars working together to help prepare our next-generation workforce. These collaborative efforts range from Career Days to field trips for high school students at local businesses to city-supported and business-supported scholarship funds that allow students to attend college for little or no money. Just this past month, 70 high school students attended an all-day showcase at Kaiser Permanente in Fontana, learning about the wide range of good-paying jobs at a hospital.
These kinds of partnerships are invaluable and represent a modern-day spin on the adage that it takes a village to raise a child. At the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, we are proud of the role our county and our stakeholders are playing in preparing our next generation of workers for 21st century career opportunities.
We believe, as they do, that the future is now.
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 Dr. Dan Serna, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Kaiser Permanente Fontana, discusses his career track to 70 high school students who visited the hospital on April 25. The annual Healer’s Day program is collaborative effort to inspire students to pursue healthcare careers.
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Impact Story
 Christy Cooper (right) with Cassandra Kimbrough, an employee she hired through WDB’s On-the-Job Training program.
Feeling Good about On-The Job Training
A Certified Public Accountant, Christy Cooper had a good understanding of budgets, finances and the operational mechanics of keeping a business going when she launched Feel Good Market, an eco-conscious store in downtown Redlands offering hand-crafted soaps and other sustainable products. But as her boutique business grew, finding, training and keeping qualified employees became a challenge – one the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) has been able to help her with through programs such as On-The-Job Training (OJT).
“It’s absolutely amazing that these kinds of programs are out there for small businesses. The county is there to support you in whatever way you need,” says Cooper, who began her entrepreneurial journey after creating an all-natural soap for family members with psoriasis and eczema. In 2018, she started selling at local markets, and opened her shop in 2021.
More than a storefront, Feel Good Market features a refill station, which promotes the use of recycled containers, as well as a studio, where soaps, bath bombs, shower steamers and lotion bars are produced in-house. New employees need training to work the studio, which would be prohibitive if not for OJT, which pays up to 50% of a trainee’s wages during his or her first three months. “Teaching people how to make soap can take three months. During that time, it can be a struggle, but then it clicks. We have three on staff now who are amazing at it,” Cooper says.
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Monthly Labor Market Update
 Continued growth in the healthcare sector and government hiring helped lower San Bernardino County’s unemployment rate to 5.1% in March. Across the Inland Empire, government added 2,100 jobs, with healthcare adding another 1,900. Year-over-year, healthcare has added 21,200 jobs in the two-county region, according to the California Employment Development Department.
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Growing up on a ranch taught me the value of hard work through the diverse experiences it brings. Every task instilled different lessons that resonated beyond the fences, from working on a shearing crew to ranch hand. My first jobs taught me discipline, responsibility and resilience, traits crucial for any career path. Working on the land, tending to animals and facing unpredictable challenges honed my problem-solving skills and adaptability. I had valuable experiences to help me know what I wanted and didn’t want as a future career.
Today, as youth seek opportunities beyond traditional agrarian settings, providing avenues for diverse job experiences is vital. Youth programs can bridge this gap, offering invaluable chances to cultivate skills and work ethics. Just as every task on the ranch contributed to my growth, varied job experiences can shape the future workforce.
Whether in agriculture or other industries, early exposure through apprenticeships fosters a sense of purpose and direction. Employers play a crucial role in providing these opportunities for a meaningful career. Let's empower youth with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive, ensuring they have the chance to inherit not just a job but a legacy of resilience and determination.
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Remembering Michael Gallo
 The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) expresses its deepest condolences on the loss of Michael Gallo, an esteemed Board Member, businessman, colleague and community leader. Mr. Gallo served on the WDB for 23 years, was the Chair of our Economic Development and Business Services Committee and represented our county on the California Workforce Development Board.
Mr. Gallo’s community service work extended far and wide, and he received many accolades. He founded Kelly Space & Technology in San Bernardino and was involved in efforts to create impactful community collaboratives, such as the Alliance for Education and the California Nanotechnology Collaborative, among many others.
“This is a heartbreaking and significant loss for our region, the world, and space, quite literally, as Mike was a rocket scientist and the only one many of us were lucky enough to get to know and be inspired by. We are beyond grateful for his service to the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, and we extend our deepest sympathy to Mike’s loved ones,” said William Sterling, WDB Chairman.
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Stat of the Month
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Connecting Employers and Job Seekers
Local employers will participate in hiring events at the County’s America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) and other venues in the coming weeks:
Thursday, June 13: Hiring event, Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa ROP, 1214 Indiana Court, Building C, Redlands, CA, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, July 18: Hiring event, West Valley America’s Job Center of California, 9650 9th St., Suite B, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, 9 a.m.-Noon.
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Coming Up
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:
Friday, May 17: California Employment Development Department releases its April jobs report.
Friday, June 7: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its May jobs report.
Wednesday, June 12: WDB Executive Committee Meeting, 290 N. D St., Suite 600, San Bernardino. 8:30 -10 a.m.
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Stay up to date
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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- 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/
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