Unemployment Rises Substantially Due to Pandemic Closures
Employment change within specific industry clusters illustrates how San Bernardino County’s economy is evolving. Tracking salary levels in these clusters shows whether these jobs can provide a wage high enough for workers to afford living in San Bernardino County. This indicator presents employment and salaries in five industry clusters chosen to reflect the diversity of San Bernardino County employment, as well as to capture major economic drivers within the county and important industry sectors for workforce development. Approximately 53% of all San Bernardino County jobs can be found in the five clusters described in this indicator. Also tracked is the unemployment rate.
How is San Bernardino County Doing?
TREND
Number of Jobs
Three of the five selected industry clusters experienced a decrease in employment between 2018 and 2019. At 8%, Manufacturing experienced the greatest decline between 2018 and 2019. Healthcare jobs decreased by 2% and Construction/Housing Related Industries decreased by 1%. Logistics grew by 3% and Professional/Scientific/Technical Services jobs increased by 1% from the prior year.
The 10-year trend, however, indicates that all selected clusters experienced employment increases. Since 2010, Logistics employment increased 94% and Construction/Housing Related Industries employment increased 45%. The number of Healthcare jobs grew by 38%, Professional/Scientific/Technical Services increased 25% since 2010, and Manufacturing employment increased 17% over the same period.
10-YEAR TREND MARKS GROWTH IN ALL SELECTED INDUSTRY CLUSTERS
Employment in Selected Industry Clusters in San Bernardino County, 2010 – 2019
Salaries
Salaries in three out of the five selected clusters are increasing. Between 2018 and 2019, average salaries in Logistics increased by 13%, Construction/Housing Related Industries increased by 9%, and Manufacturing by 1%. The average salary of Professional/Scientific/Technical Services and Healthcare jobs remained essentially unchanged. During this same period, the cost of living increased 2.0%.1
The minimum annual income needed to qualify for financing to purchase an entry-level home (priced at 85% of median) is approximately $42,000, which is affordable on average to employees in all five of these clusters if a down payment can be secured.
SALARIES INCREASED OR STAYED THE SAME
ACROSS THE FIVE SELECTED CLUSTERS
Average Annual Salaries in Selected Clusters in San Bernardino County, 2021 and 2023
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | $65,242 | $68,961 | $70,509 |
| Professional/Scientific/Technical Services | $74,722 | $83,059 | $78,906 |
| Manufacturing | $66,911 | $67,862 | $68,995 |
| Construction/Housing Related Industries | $64,636 | $66,826 | $67,579 |
| Logistics | $64,488 | $67,264 | $68,855 |
| Government | $83,750 | $88,341 | $91,910 |
| Educational Services | $65,251 | $64,545 | $67,838 |
Source: Analysis of data from Chmura Economics & Analytics
Unemployment
After years of steady decreases in the unemployment rate, hitting a low of 3.7% in 2019, the unemployment rate was 9.2% in December 2020. This is mostly due to the impact of the pandemic and mandatory stay-at-home orders.
In December 2020, San Bernardino County’s unemployment rate was ranked 39 out of the 58 counties in California, a position that has worsened significantly from 28th in 2019. San Bernardino County’s unemployment rate is higher than the California rate (8.8%) and higher than the national rate (6.7%).
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE MORE THAN DOUBLED, MOSTLY DUE TO PANDEMIC
Unemployment Rate, in San Bernardino County, California and United States, 2010 – December 2020