THE IE LABOR MARKET PULSE

Monthly Analysis and Insights on the Latest Riverside and San Bernardino Jobs Data

February 2025

Honoring Black Residents: Workforce, Culture, and Impact in the Inland Empire

As we celebrate Black History Month, we recognize not just the past but the enduring contributions of Black residents who continue to shape the Inland Empire’s economy, culture, and community. Black workers’ strength, resilience, and leadership have been instrumental in driving regional growth, innovation, and social progress. But beyond workforce contributions, Black residents have enriched the Inland Empire through arts, activism, entrepreneurship, and community leadership—shaping the region’s identity and paving the way for future generations.

The Inland Empire/Desert Region is home to nearly 396,000 Black residents (Hispanic and non-Hispanic), making up approximately 8.4% of the regional population. Over the past five years, the Black population has grown by 3.5%—more than double the regional growth rate of 1.7%. Black residents also represent a larger share of the population here than in California, where they make up 6.5%. These numbers highlight a growing and dynamic community and the significant role Black residents play in shaping the region’s economy, workforce, and cultural landscape.

At a time when the national landscape presents both challenges and opportunities, it is more important than ever to highlight the experiences, achievements, and impact of Black residents in all aspects of life. From small business owners to educators, from community leaders to artists, Black individuals in the Inland Empire continue to break barriers and build a future that is both inclusive and prosperous.

This special edition labor market report is dedicated to uplifting the voices of Black residents, shedding light on key workforce trends, and celebrating the broader cultural and economic contributions that strengthen the Inland Empire.

INDUSTRY

Workforce demographics closely mirror the population, with Black workers comprising 6.9% of the regional labor force. These workers are heavily concentrated in some of the region’s largest industries, which are projected to drive employment growth in the coming years, accounting for more than two-thirds of the jobs projected to be added by 2028. Exhibit 1 displays the share of African American employment by industry as well as the average earnings per job in the industry. African Americans are underrepresented in the region’s highest earning industries: Management of Companies and Enterprises, Utilities, and Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, each with the average earnings per job well above $100,000 per year.

Exhibit 1: African American Employment by Industry, 2023

Source: Lightcast 2025.1

OCCUPATIONS

Understanding the industries where Black workers have a strong presence provides valuable insight into the broader economic landscape of the region. However, industry data only tells a part of the story. To gain a fuller picture of economic opportunity, it is important to examine the occupations that employ a significant number of Black workers. The following highlights these key occupation groups, focusing on those that employ a significant share of African American workers.

Exhibit 2: Occupation Groups with High Representation of Black Workers (3-Digit SOCs), 2023

BLACK YOUTH

Black Youth, those under 25 years old, account for more than 134,000 people in the Inland Empire-Desert region and more than a third of the entire Black population (33.9%), see Exhibit 3. For comparison, in California those under 25 years old account for 30.9% of the population, meaning that Black Youth in the region are slightly overrepresented compared to the entirely of the state.

Exhibit 3: Age Category As Percent of Total Black Population, Inland Empire-Desert Region, 2023

Source: Lightcast 2025.1

One of IEGO’s core missions is to promote opportunity across the region and, in that spirit, we encourage all readers to get more involved in organizations that uplift Black Youth into tomorrow’s workers, leaders, and innovators in the labor market. One such group is the Youth Action Project (YAP) whose mission is to “empower youth and young adults in the development of skills and habits needed to experience economic and social success.” While not solely focused on Black Youth, the group seeks to support youth in the region and across California with mentorship, training, and other key services.

BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES

Entrepreneurship is a powerful driver of economic mobility. A 2023 report from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that the median business owner earned 31% more than the median wage worker, highlighting the potential benefits of self-employment. However, Black Californians are underrepresented among the self-employed due to factors such as age, access to capital, and educational attainment.

To help bridge this gap and support Black entrepreneurs, regional Black Chambers of Commerce provide critical resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy for minority-owned businesses. Engaging with these organizations, whether by supporting Black-owned businesses, attending events, or leveraging their service, can contribute to a more equitable local economy.

Explore and support Black businesses through these regional chambers:

 

To learn more about this data or IEGO’s Labor Market Research, please email
researchrequest@iegocollaborative.org 

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