Inland Empire

Comprised of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

Decarbonization requires a larger workforce, higher technology integration skills

Approximately 18,000 annual job openings indicate solid economic growth. Environmental and Equity progress requires advances in workforce development to decarbonize communities and create economic mobility for their residents.

Our Process:
Three-Part Data Analysis

TESC cultivates regional collaboratives that prioritize workforce initiatives to drive the triple bottom line of Economy, Environment, and Equity

Economy

Aligning workforce development priorities with regional economic initiatives
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Environment

Building essential workforce skills to support regional decarbonization
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Equity

Creating career opportunities for members of Disadvantaged Communities
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Economy

Construction sector provides opportunities, worker scarcity impedes economic growth

While a lack of workers has slowed both job gains and labor force growth across the state and nation, the Inland Empire’s affordability advantage over its surrounding neighbors has been a key factor in helping the region avoid much of the slowdown. In year-to-date terms, from October 2017 to October 2018, the Inland Empire’s labor force expanded by 1.2% compared to 0.4% in California as a whole. According to the new analysis, the IE accounts for over 25% of the net increase in the state’s labor force during the past year.

Worker scarcity is having an effect, however, including putting upward pressure on wages. Across the region, earnings grew by 2.8% from the first half of 2017 to the first half of 2018. This is a modest jump compared to wage growth in the state overall (4.5%) although appreciable local wage gains are expected in 2019.

Source: Inland Empire economic gains will continue in 2019

Economy | Environment | Equity
Sustained Growth, New Opportunities

Workforce growth continues to lag construction demand. TESC facilitates synchronized regional workforce development initiatives to help bridge this gap.

Highlights: Rapid employment growth raises questions about whether workforce skills are keeping pace with competencies required. Education and training solutions are essential for environmental quality in construction.
Economy | Environment | Equity
High-skill Occupations in Greatest Demand

Inland Empire regional economic growth is creating 18,000 job openings annually in the Energy, Construction, and Utilities Sector. These new positions support further economic growth and help drive the triple bottom line.

Highlights: Continued growth in construction and related fields is projected to continue current growth trend, signaling the need for increased workforce education and training.
Economy | Environment | Equity

Environment

Innovative workforce solutions for environmental opportunities and challenges are essential to achieve decarbonization at scale for impacted communities

San Bernardino County and Riverside County are first and second, respectively, in the latest survey of counties with the worst air pollution in the nation, according to the latest “State of the Air” report from the American Lung Association.

A different approach is needed to truly address the current levels of pollution smothering Inland Empire communities. The goal of the Inland Valley Environmental Justice Intervention And Revitalization Program is to create real environmental justice where all communities have the right to healthy, safe, and prosperous communities. The goal encompasses three environmental justice imperatives

  1. Stop the levels of pollution from getting worse;
  2. Intervene and take dramatic steps to reduce the imminent health threat and reduce the current levels of pollution
  3. Take proactive steps to create healthy, sustainable communities
Economy | Environment | Equity
Concentrations of Poor Environmental Quality

Communities most impacted by environmental issues cluster in seven zip codes, reflecting heavy industrial and power generation footprints. Significant health issues are common in the region, attributable in part to environmental conditions.

Highlights: More than 300,000 Inland Empire residents live in the highest quartile of poor environmental quality among all communities in the state.
Economy | Environment | Equity
The Workforce Opportunity

Heavy industrial and power generation sites are the target of California’s Cap and Trade Legislation. Heavy traffic corridors are major pollution sources as well. Complex site-level and community-scale decarbonization projects will require significant new workforce competencies for advanced technology integration.

Emerging Occupations

  • Database Systems operators
  • Data analytics specialists
  • Coders and programmers
  • digital energy systems
    • Designers
    • Integrators
    • Operators
  • Digital Energy network specialists
    • Cybersecurity specialists
  • Digital programming specialists
    • Microgrid-associated technologies and networks
    • Energy auditing,surveying and benchmarking
    • Energy modeling
  • CAD/CAM drafters and operators
  • Energy systems
    • Sales specialists
    • Product marketing specialists
Highlights: Significant upgrades to education and training programs are required for essential technologies that can achieve environmental improvement in distressed communities and beyond.
Economy | Environment | Equity

Equity

Poor environmental quality is strongly correlated with economic disadvantage, indicating regional responsibility for social equity in addition to environmental justice

Economy | Environment | Equity
Communities in Need: Environmental Justice

Disadvantaged Communities are disproportionally affected by environmental issues. Mitigation or removal of environmental impacts is essential to quality of life for more than 1.3 million Inland Empire residents. Hover over each population for a total count.

Highlights: These communities are among the most environmentally disadvantaged in the region. Environmental justice requires large scale measures to improve quality of life for community members.
Economy | Environment | Equity
Communities in Need: Social Equity

Social and economic mobility challenges are more severe in Disadvantaged Communities. Workforce development solutions are needed to create pathways out of poverty, requiring strong regional action.

Highlights: Social equity is a serious issue for members of these communities, adding the need for family wage jobs on top of relieving health issues associated with poor environmental quality.
Economy | Environment | Equity
Abundant Job Opportunities, Targeted Workforce Development Required

Approximately 18,000 job openings are projected annually for the Inland Empire Energy, Construction, and Utilities Sector through 2026. TESC partnerships with community-based organizations and industry create a strong platform for pathways out of poverty.

The chart below displays median ECU hourly earnings as well as the living wage as calculated for Riverside County..

Highlights: Significant opportunities exist in middle-skill jobs for which members of Disadvantaged Communities can be trained and employed.
Economy | Environment | Equity