Coming Events

EVENT: June 3, 2024, the MCIE’s Manufacturing Careers Charity Golf Tournament at Bear ValleyCountry Club, Victorville, followed by lunch. Proceeds to benefit building career pathways to rewarding, regional careers in manufacturing. To register or to learn more about how to sponsor, visit this link.

Factory Tour of A-19 Held in April

Cinnamon Alvarez, founder and owner of A19 Artisan Lighting, (www.A19.com) invited in the MCIE, and a number of our partners, to learn about her operation. The company specializes in manufacturing artisan made ceramic wall sconces and pendant lighting. Their creations have been featured in the portfolios of numerous Interior Designers and Architects.

In addition to being an enthusiastic maker, and manager of her company, Cinnamon is an author, speaker, consultant and artist. She also spends considerable time working with the San Bernardino County Workforce investment board.

Partnerships with Norco College Announced to Bridge Skills Gap in Manufacturing Sector

The Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire (MCIE) is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with Norco College aimed at addressing the pressing need for skilled workers in the manufacturing industry. Through this collaboration, MCIE and Norco College will seek to engage and inform manufacturers about the outstanding learn and earn programs available at the college.

The partnership focuses on promoting Norco College’s exceptional programs including conventional machine operator, computer numerical controller (CNC) operator, CNC programmer, and industrial automation. These programs are designed to equip individuals with the specialized skills needed to thrive in the modern manufacturing landscape.

Ashley Etchison, Dean of Instruction, Career Education at Norco College, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are excited to join forces with MCIE to support the manufacturing industry in the Inland Empire. Through our programs, we aim to provide individuals with the training and expertise necessary to excel in high-wage, and high-demand manufacturing careers.”

Dr. Wallace Brithinee, President of the MCIE Board, emphasized the significance of addressing the skills gap in the region, stating, “The partnership between MCIE and Norco College represents a crucial step towards bridging the skills gap that hinders the growth of the manufacturing sector in the Inland Empire. By working together, we can provide manufacturers with access to a skilled workforce and drive economic prosperity in our community.”

The partnership between MCIE and Norco College represents a collaborative effort to address the challenges facing the manufacturing industry in the Inland Empire. By leveraging educational resources and industry expertise, the partners are committed to driving innovation, fostering workforce development, and fueling economic growth in the region.

Economic Update

• (Apr 8) – Unemployment rate fell from 3.9% to 3.8% in March as payrolls increased by 303K across education, private education, government, and leisure and hospitality lead job growth. Construction rose, but manufacturing was flat. Service industries were muted. (JP Morgan)
• (Apr 25) – California’s unemployment rate is still the highest in the country at 5.3% in March, unchanged from February. The State grew jobs at a rate of 1.3%; the Inland Empire grew 1.6%, which is faster than the state average but lower than the region’s 2.1% from between 2019-2023. Orange grew jobs at 1.9% and Los Angeles grew at 0.4%. (Public Policy Institute of California)
• (Mar 23) – For the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario Metropolitan Statistical Area, some of the annual revisions were substantial. In the Inland Empire, the Logistics industry lost significantly more jobs (some 5,000 depending on which month you focus on) since last summer than originally assumed and shows a steeper downward trend. On the other hand, Education and Health Services has gained more jobs than previously thought, roughly 10,000 more and the numbers are trending upward, confirming it as the sector with the largest share of labor in the Inland Empire. The headline news for the Inland Empire is that the unemployment rate jumped up by 50 basis points (that is half of a percent), from 5.0% to 5.5%.  (San Bernardino Sun-Telegram)