The Inland Empire’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.5% in December, down from 5.7% in November. California’s unemployment rate increased to 5.5% over the month, while the US rate went down by 0.1% to 4.1%. Long-term unemployment trends align with those of California and the US. The regional unemployment rate decreased by 0.1% from December 2023 to December 2024, despite fluctuating by 1.7% over the year.

Graph depicting the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the region.

 

Industry Overview

The total non-farm employment in the region decreased by 900 jobs or 0.1% in December 2024, after reaching an all-time high of 1.74 million jobs in November 2024. Despite a decrease in jobs over the month, the region had nearly 23,000 more jobs in December 2024 than December 2023. Seven of the 19 industry sectors, displayed below, all added jobs over the year. The region’s largest industries, government, health care and social assistance, and transportation and warehousing, grew the fastest and added a combined total of 35,200 jobs over the year. The construction sector experienced the greatest drawdown in employment over the year, shedding 3,700 jobs.

Bar chart depicting industry sectors by growth in 2024

2024 Saw Major Growth in Healthcare and Government Sectors

The Inland Empire-Desert region continued to demonstrate its resilience by adding 22,800 jobs in 2024. While a handful of industries grew in 2024, the government and healthcare industry sectors experienced the most significant growth in employment, with the healthcare industry adding more jobs than all other sectors combined.

The healthcare industry grew by 7.0% in 2024, adding 19,100 jobs to the Inland Empire-Desert region. Notable employment growth in this industry occurred in the ambulatory health care services (outpatient services, office of physicians, home health) and nursing and residential care facilities, growing by 5.1% and 7.4%, respectively. Job posting data confirms that demand for these workers is strong with over 2,600 regional employers posting more than 43,000 unique job ads in 2024.

Similarly, the Government sector (which includes federal, state, and local government jobs) grew by nearly 4% in 2024, adding 9,700 jobs to the Inland Empire-Desert region. Over 140 employers in the government industry sector posted more than 2,100 unique job ads in 2024. Demand for government workers appears to be concentrated within the top three regional employers posting job ads. The State of California, San Bernardino County, and Inland Empire Health Plan posted more than 40% of industry job ads in 2024.

Read the latest from the IED COE on “Good Job” opportunities in the region here.

Read the latest from the IED COE on Apprenticeship opportunities in the region here.