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MARCH 2025
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Col. Paul Cook (Ret.) District 1
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Jesse Armendarez District 2
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Dawn Rowe
Chairman
District 3
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Curt Hagman
District 4
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Joe Baca Jr.
Vice Chair
District 5
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Luther Snoke – Chief Executive Officer, San Bernardino County
Bradley Gates – Director, Workforce Development Department
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Demand for educators is growing across the County and the Inland Empire |
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Teaching is more than a profession – it is the foundation of our future. Educators do more than instruct; they inspire, mentor, and equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an evolving economy. They are the architects of the workforce, shaping the next generation of skilled professionals who will drive innovation, productivity and economic growth.
As industries transform and new technologies emerge, the demand for qualified educators continues to grow. There has never been a more critical time to enter this noble profession.
In San Bernardino County and across the Inland Empire, public schools serve approximately 850,000 students. As the region’s population expands, so does the need for skilled teachers who can prepare students for careers in high-demand fields. The California Employment Development Department (EDD) projects more than 100,000 job openings in education across the two-county region between 2020 and 2030. These opportunities span K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, reinforcing the essential role of educators in workforce development.
While retirements and turnover contribute to this demand, the sheer size and rapid growth of the region are also key factors. Now the 12th largest metropolitan area in the United States, the Inland Empire continues to expand, making the need for dedicated educators even more urgent.
As demand increases, so too does compensation. According to EDD, median annual salaries range from $78,000 for kindergarten teachers to more than $100,000 for elementary, middle, and high school educators. College and university instructors in criminal justice and law enforcement earn a median salary of $169,000.
Through our shared commitment to building a strong workforce, the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) proudly supports the education community. For more information about WDB, including our youth employment program, labor market intelligence and extensive business support services, please visit our website.
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Projected Job Openings, 2020-2030, Across the Inland Empire
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Median Annual Salaries Within the Inland Empire
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Post-Secondary Teachers (Range)
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$66,034-$169,737
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Elementary, Secondary School Administrators
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$131,773
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Middle School Teachers
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$103,931
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High School Special Education Teachers
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$103,796
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Career/Technical Education Teachers
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$103,050
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High School Teachers
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$102,460
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Elementary School Teachers
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$101,227
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Kindergarten Teachers
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$78,829
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SOURCE: California Employment Development Department
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‘Working for my father meant staying until the job was done’
By Don English
Director, Child Welfare and Attendance, San Bernardino County Schools
My first job was at 13 years old, working alongside my twin, Ron English, at English Uniform Co., my father’s uniform manufacturing facility. My responsibilities included washing windows and cleaning the street in front of the store. During that time, I was active in all sports, particularly basketball, which my dad allowed me to play during work breaks.
Unlike a typical 9-to-5 job, working for my father meant staying until the job was done. Sometimes, that meant working until midnight, cutting garments with an actual garment saw and counting shirts to ensure we shipped the correct amount. Since my father contracted with the government, including the U.S. Army, precision and strict adherence to specifications were essential.
Through this experience, I learned that success isn’t measured by hours on a clock but by seeing tasks through to completion. My twin and I also gained invaluable business insight, learning how to work with decision makers under my dad’s guidance. He instilled in us the belief that we could compete on any stage with anyone, as long as we remained focused, acted with integrity and did the right thing.
Those summers were invaluable to my growth, shaping my work ethic and perspective on business and leadership.
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How WDB Youth Services helped this young man follow his dream and pursue a career |
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Unsure of what the future held, Brandon Baes felt lost when he contacted San Bernardino County Workforce Development Specialist Delina Moreno. “I didn’t know what I was going to do. I didn’t have any money, and I needed help,” he said during a recent presentation to the Workforce Development Board (WDB). |
ABOVE: Brandon Baes (center) is joined by WDB Chair William Sterling (left) and Director Bradley Gates (right). |
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Moreno helped Baes tap into a dream of his to become a dog breeder. With the support of WDB’s Youth Services Program, he is going to school at the American College of Healthcare & Technology, while gaining valuable experience as a volunteer. During the recent wildfires, he helped care for dogs that had suffered burns or other trauma.
“I look forward to being able to take my knowledge to private practice,” he said. “I want to be able to catch underyling health conditions because in my field, I want breedings to go down perfectly, and they can’t go down perfect if you’re not prepared.”
None of this would be possible without Moreno’s support. “I laid my interest out to Delina. She was definitely a driving force and provided a lot of support.”
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San Bernardino County’s total labor force climbed to a record 1.038 million workers in January as the job market once again outperformed the state. Across the Inland Empire, the healthcare sector showed the strongest gains over the past 12 months, increasing by more than 16,000 jobs. Leisure and hospitality lost 10,600 jobs during the same period.
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January 2024
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November 2024
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December 2024
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January 2025
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San Bernardino County Unemployment Rate
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5.4%
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5.1%
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4.8%
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5.2%
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California Unemployment Rate*
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5.4%
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5.4%
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5.2%
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5.4%
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United States Unemployment Rate*
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4.1%
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4.0%
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3.8%
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4.4%
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People Employed in San Bernardino County
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964,600
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972,500
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976,900
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984,100
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San Bernardino County Labor Force
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1,019,500
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1,025,000
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1,026,500
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1,038,400
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* Rates unadjusted
SOURCE: California Employment Development Department
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Career Fairs and Hiring Events offer great value for employers across our county
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By William Sterling
WDB Chair
Hiring the right talent is critical to business success, and career fairs and hiring events offer a powerful way to connect with skilled job seekers. In the coming months, the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) will sponsor and support several hiring events across the region, giving businesses and organizations a chance to engage with hundreds of potential candidates in one place. Check out our listings every month in this newsletter, under the heading “Connecting Employers and Job Seekers.” Feel free, too, to contact a member of our Business Services Team.
Beyond these events, our Business Services Team provides valuable support to employers year-round. From On-the-Job Training, which covers half of a qualified new hire’s wages during training, to organizational counseling and labor market intelligence, we offer tools to help businesses grow and succeed.
I encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities. Together, we can strengthen our workforce and economy.
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Helping Displaced Workers |
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 Employees at the San Bernardino Kohl’s E-commerce Distribution Center take part in an Employment Resources and Job Fair event, coordinated in partnership with the Workforce Development Board.
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WDB Rapid Response and Kohl’s: A Model for Effective Workforce Transitions |
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Since 2010, the San Bernardino Kohl’s E-commerce Distribution Center has moved millions of Kohl’s orders throughout the region. In that time, the center became more than just a workplace – it was a hub where many built careers, friendships and a strong culture of support and growth.
When Kohl’s announced plans to close the distribution center at the end of its lease term in May, Senior Human Resources Manager Cory Williams and his team took swift, proactive action, crafting a comprehensive transition plan that exceeded expectations. Kohl’s even halted production for a day to provide associates with a paid day that consisted of an onsite Employment Resources and Job Fair event, coordinated in partnership with the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) and its Rapid Response team.
WDB and Kohl’s worked closely to develop a full day of onsite employment resources, including morning and evening information sessions and a recruitment event. Representatives from WDB, Child Support Services and the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) were on hand, along with 20 employers. More than 300 Kohl’s associates participated in the morning session, networking and even interviewing on the spot with recruiters.
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Stat of the Month
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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:
Wednesday, March 19: Career Fair, El Garces Historic Train Depot, 950 Front St., Needles. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, March 20: Career Fair, De Anza Community Center, 1405 S. Fern Ave, Ontario. 9 a.m.-Noon.
Wednesday, April 15: Career Fair, Chaffey College Chino Community Center, 5890 College Park Ave., Chino. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, April 24: Career Fair, Mall of Victor Valley, 14400 Bear Valley Road, Suite 735, Victorville. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
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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 online.
In the meantime, here are some upcoming events and release dates:
Wednesday, March 19: WDB Budget Workshop, 290 North D Street, Suite 600, San Bernardino. 9-11 a.m.
Friday, March 28: California Employment Development Department releases its February jobs report.
Friday, April 4: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its March jobs report.
Friday, April 18: California Employment Development Department releases its March 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 St., 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
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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