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Photo by Frankie Aguilar, IELC Communications Coordinator
Left to Right: Chris Castorena, Esmeralda Vazquez, Ricardo Cisneros, Hillary Jenks, Stewart Knox, Matthew Mena, Kaina Pereira, Carina Tamayo Cabrera, Graciela Moran

On Monday, December 2, 2024, the Inland Empire Labor Council met with Labor Secretary Stewart Knox of the California Labor & Workforce Development Agency and Kaina Pereira the Executive Director of the California Workforce Development Board during their one-day visit to Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The visit included a series of workforce planning discussions with key stakeholders, convened by Thrive Inland SoCal (Inland Empire Labor Institute, IEGO, IECF) and the Inland Empire Labor Council.

Thrive Inland SoCal (Thrive) is tasked with implementing the California Jobs First Regional Investment Initiative in the Inland Empire. One of the main tasks of the Thrive collaborative is to deliver a Regional Economic Plan to the state to ensure that we obtain the investments needed to diversify our local economies for our residents. This initiative, introduced by Governor Gavin Newsom, aims to align state agencies to achieve “statewide alignment on training Californians for family-sustaining jobs.” Regional councils across California were established to develop strategies that provide an economic snapshot, prioritize key sectors, and implement comprehensive workforce development plans.

As Co-chair of the California Jobs First Initiative, Secretary Knox participated in these discussions to gather insights and feedback on how to bring innovative sectors and highlight labor priorities from the Inland Empire’s leaders.

Addressing Workforce Development in a Region Facing Automation

The Inland Empire’s logistics-dominated economy is rapidly advancing toward full automation, creating an urgent need for workforce development funding. During our meeting, Ricardo Cisneros, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, emphasized the necessity of job transitions to act as a safety net for workers who may face displacement within the next five years.

The Inland Empire Labor Council spoke on the impact of those who live and work in the region daily, highlighted the unsustainable economic models that local governments continue to adopt. These models often prioritize development that undermines stable, well-paying jobs. Unsustainable working and living conditions, such as rising rent and mortgage costs outpacing wage growth, were central to the conversation.

We Need Job Transitions Now

The lack of good jobs has far-reaching impacts. Community members shared stories of overcrowded, unsafe housing due to high rents. Multi-family units have led to a lack of parking, creating tensions among neighbors. Long commutes, driven by the need to secure employment, mean more accidents on the road and less time at home, disrupting work-life balance. The people living and working in the IE endure the consequences of poor Economic Development planning everyday.

The “State of Work” report, produced by the Inland Empire Labor Institute in collaboration with UC Riverside’s Inland Empire Labor and Community Center and other partners, brings light to these challenges. It notes that the “transportation and warehousing” sector has become the largest employer in the region. While this sector grew by 84% from 2016–2022, many of these jobs are at risk due to automation, including driverless trucks—a policy recently left unchecked after the Governor’s veto of a bill regulating autonomous trucking.

A Call for Sustainable Solutions

Our meeting with Labor Secretary Knox was an opportunity to advocate for workforce development solutions that align with the region’s unique challenges. We pushed for investment in job transition programs to ensure the Inland Empire’s working families are not left behind. This is critical not only for our economy but also for the safety and quality of life in our communities.