Workforce Data

Workforce Availability

With the labor force of around 900,000, and an unemployment rate of around 14% (as of the summer of 2010), businesses generally have no problem finding the workers they need.  If businesses need assistance with recruitment or feel the need to train new workers due to a lack of suitable skills, the County's Workforce Development Department is ready to help.
  • Workforce -- around 900,000
  • Unemployment rate -- around 14% (summer of 2010)
  • 20 percent have college degrees (among 25 and older population)
  • 80 percent have high school diplomas
  • Mean commute -- 31 minutes

Labor Costs

Wage data from California Employment Development Department: Occupational Employment & Wages

County of San Bernardino labor costs tend to be lower than those in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.  Many of the residents who commute to the coastal counties for work are willing to accept lower pay for jobs closer to home. Despite accepting less money, San Bernardino County residents still benefit because of the even greater differential in the cost of living.  47 percent of local residents would accept at least five percent lower pay to avoid commuting to Orange County, while one percent would accept 15 percent less to work locally.

Because the price of many products and services and the cost of housing are lower in the County, local residents actually enjoy higher net disposable incomes and higher standards of living than what the income data indicate.  For instance, the median home resale price in San Bernardino County is about one-third of that in Orange County and one-half of that in Los Angeles County (8/2009 data). The average apartment rents are 27% and 33% lower, respectively (2010Q2 data).

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