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NOVEMBER 2024
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Rising household income, housing affordability, a young and growing workforce – new Census data reinforce the County’s emergence as one of America’s premier labor markets |
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San Bernardino County continues to build its case as Southern California's economic hub as updated American Community Survey (ACS) results from the U.S. Census Bureau show the County outperforming the region in several key workforce indicators. The ACS data follow recent projections from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) and others showing San Bernardino County adding hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next 25-30 years as the population soars by as many as 1 million new residents. In the charts below, we examine some of the key ACS indicators and 10-year trends impacting workforce development in the nation’s largest geographic county. |
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SOURCE: 2023 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates (September 2024) |
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Message from the Chair
Growth in income, educational attainment show real progress is being made
William Sterling
WDB Chair
As our lead headline states, San Bernardino County is definitely “Trending Up” when it comes to workforce and career opportunities. While we still have our challenges, the latest American Community Survey numbers underscore how much progress has been made.
Two data points stand out to me – household income and educational attainment. While both still trail state and regional averages, the growth that‘s occurring is critical to attracting higher-paying jobs and building a qualified workforce to meet the needs of our businesses. Combine all of this with housing affordability, a young, trainable labor pool, and an unmatched quality of life, and the future is looking better than ever.
At the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board, we are proud to play an important part in this storyline, providing resources and services to transform lives and support business growth. Thank you for the opportunity to do so. For more on what we’re doing, please visit our website.
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PBS comes to SB County to explore career pathways for young people
On November 13, local dignitaries joined the team of the PBS show Roadtrip Nation for a special screening of the latter’s upcoming feature on career paths in San Bernardino County. The Workforce Development Board assisted the show’s producers in connecting young people with local professionals who are making a difference, including Dora Barilla (below, right), Co-Founder and President of HC2 Strategies in Rancho Cucamonga. Click the image to the right to access additional information on the series and, beginning November 19, the two full-length video segments. |
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Rosemarie Saldivar, shown here with WDB Chair William Sterling (left) and Director Bradley Gates, shared her company’s turnaround story with the WDB Board.
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WDB’s Business Services team helps Ontario company grow sales by $750,000 |
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When retired Registered Nurse Rosemarie Saldivar joined her family's then 40-year-old business in 2014, she quickly sized up some of the workforce and management challenges she would need to address. The company, ABLE Industrial Products in Ontario, makes adhesives, tapes and other materials used by a variety of industries such as aerospace, renewable energy and healthcare,
Early on, Saldivar sought the help of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) in filling positions through its On-The-Job Training program, which pays up to 50% of an employee's wages while in training. More recently, she turned to WDB and its partnership with California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC) for management consultation.
"Many of our managers are experts at technical skills, but have no formal leadership training. This led to misunderstanding, miscommunication and inexperience with new California employment law,” Saldivar says. “I saw a large need for improvement, recognizing that a lack of training was creating morale issues, lost productivity and high turnover for our company.”
Through its partnership with WDB, CMTC has provided ABLE ongoing leadership coaching, which Saldivar credits with improved productivity, the retaining of 10 jobs, the addition of 12 more, and a $750,000 increase in sales in one year alone.
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Monthly Labor Market Update
 San Bernardino County’s unemployment rate fell half a percentage point in September, led by an increase in government jobs. The county is still outperforming the state, and continues to see year-over-year growth in several key industries, most notably healthcare. Across the Inland Empire, healthcare added 18,500 jobs over the past year.
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 My first job was as a courtesy clerk for Stater Bros. Markets while I was in high school. While I had been a paperboy and also worked doing late-night pressure washing, Stater Bros. was the first time I had to directly interact with customers on a routine basis. Not to mention I had to wear a tie and an apron, show up on time, work hard and smile (all challenges for a 16-year-old boy). Looking back, over the nearly three years I was there, what a great experience with a great company! Among so many positive lessons, it taught me the meaning of good customer service. I learned how to communicate well with others, deal with a number of difficult situations, and be a high-performing member of a team. I truly feel that my Stater Bros. experience played a large role in my successful transition from a teen to an adult. So, what’ll it be, paper or plastic?
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Stat of the Month
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Connecting Employers and Job Seekers
The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board hosts hiring events at the County’s America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) and other venues throughout the year. Coming up:
Thursday, December 5: Hiring Event, West Valley AJCC, 9650 9th St., Suite B., Rancho Cucamonga. 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, November 15: California Employment Development Department releases its October jobs report.
Friday, December 6: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its November jobs report.
Wednesday, December 11: WDB Executive Committee meeting, 8:30-10 a.m., 290 North D Street, Suite 600, San Bernardino.
Friday, December 20: California Employment Development Department releases its November jobs report.
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 On any given day, San Bernardino County’s three America’s Job Centers of California (AJCCs) have access to 100 or more job seekers ready and able to fill your positions. To find that perfect employee for your business, please contact your local AJCC:
East Valley: 500 Inland Center Drive, Space 508,San Bernardino (909) 382-0440
West Valley: 9650 9th Street, Suite A, Rancho Cucamonga (909) 941-6500
High Desert: 17310 Bear Valley Road, Suite 109, Victorville (760) 552-6550
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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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