County of San Bernardino: Economic Development Agency

Education And Job Growth Soars

The Inland Empire is the fastest growing region in the state and among the fastest in the nation in terms of both job and population growth, according to 2005 census data.

According to economist John Husing, an authority on the region’s economy, more than 400,000 degreed workers now reside in the Inland Empire.

That figure is rising as 27 colleges and universities in the area cultivate an educated and highly skilled workforce. Companies looking to locate in the Inland Empire find themselves with ready access to this pool of new graduates.

The number of both blue and white collar workers grows further as transplants from the coastal communities seek affordable housing not available near their jobs.

The average employer can expect to save 8 to 10 percent on salaries by leaving Los Angeles or Orange County and heading inland, according to Grubb & Ellis.

Firms looking to be at the focal point of California’s powerful economy while avoiding its higher costs of doing business find the region to be an outstanding place to conduct business.