On Tuesday, June 10, 2025, UC Riverside’s Inland Empire Labor & Community Center (IELCC) hosted its annual State of Work event, unveiling the State of Workers in the IE 2025 report. The event highlighted regional labor trends, current realities, and future possibilities for Inland Empire workers. 

The program included a presentation of key findings by researcher David Mickey-Pabello, followed by a panel discussion titled Improving Job Quality in the IE Now & Into the Future, featuring labor policy experts and workforce researchers. The event concluded with a Q&A with the report’s co-authors and research team. 

During his presentation, Mickey-Pabello emphasized that the Inland Empire’s workforce is significantly younger than the state average. He also noted that about 25% of workers commute outside the region for employment—indicating that the Inland Empire exports not just goods, but also workers. And although plenty of jobs have been created in the region over the last ten years, the number of jobs that offer middle-class wages has not increased significantly, pointing to the lack of access to middle class status. 

The executive summary expanded these insights: the IE workforce is not only younger but also more racially diverse and more concentrated in low-wage sectors than the rest of California. About 377,000 Inland Empire residents—roughly 75%—are employed within the region, while nearly 25% travel to other counties for work, a higher share than in other parts of the state. 

Key Policy Recommendations from the Report: 

• Diversify employment options. The region must create more family-sustaining jobs outside of the logistics industry. Job growth has skewed toward either very low-wage or very high-wage positions. 

• Advance wage equity. This includes targeted workforce development, stronger protections for unionization and collective bargaining, and implementation of pay transparency laws. 

• Invest in affordable housing. Solutions should include new housing construction, rental subsidies, and expanded paths to homeownership. 

• Expand childcare and early education. Increasing access to publicly subsidized childcare is essential for working parents struggling with rising costs. 

• Improve transportation infrastructure. Enhancing public transit and regional mobility will ease commuting burdens and address environmental issues. 

Panel Discussion Highlights: 

The panel featured IELCC Faculty Co-Directors Dr. Ellen Reese and Dr. Marissa Brookes, Director of the Inland Empire Labor Institute Esmeralda Vazquez, and Policy Director of the Inland Empire Labor Council Caleb Ragan. 

Panelists reflected on their roles in advancing workforce equity and building a worker-centered economy in the IE. 

Esmeralda Vazquez stressed the need for collaboration among local governments, employers, labor organizations, and the public: 

“It’s going to take all of us in this room to find a solution,” she said. 

Caleb Ragan focused on state-level labor policy, such as Assembly Bill 288, and the importance of electing pro-labor candidates. He also emphasized the need to advocate for more construction jobs beyond logistics developments. 

Dr. Ellen Reese cited the American Lung Association’s finding that San Bernardino is the most polluted county in the nation, linking this to the region’s logistics and trucking industries and underscoring the need for economic diversification and job transitions. 

Dr. Marissa Brookes added that labor must play a leading role in shaping these transitions, ensuring they are inclusive and don’t leave low-wage workers and vulnerable communities behind. 

Although printed copies of the report were not distributed at the event, attendees received the executive summary and access to another newly released report: Taking the High Road in the EV Logistics Transition: Workforce Development Strategies for the Inland Empire and Beyond.

The event concluded with a Q&A moderated by IELCC Senior Advisor Gregory B. Hutchins, featuring report co-authors and panelists: Cheylynda Barnard, Jesus “Chuy” Flores, David Mickey-Pabello, Dr. Ellen Reese, Esmeralda Vazquez, and Caleb Ragan. 

The State of Workers 2025 report was co-authored by: 
Cheylynda Barnard, Marissa Brookes, Jesus “Chuy” Flores, Gregory B. Hutchins, Jacob Kim, Michael Khvat, David Mickey-Pabello, Alice Parra-Rios, Ellen Reese, and Leslie Rivas-Bautista. 

Click on the links below to access the full reports: 

• State of Workers in the IE 2025   

• Taking the High Road in the EV Logistics Transition