Workforce Development
Workforce development is about more than just offering training, it’s about creating a seamless pipeline from education to employment. That means aligning curriculum with real industry needs, fostering stronger relationships between unions and training institutions, and ensuring that people who are trained are also fully prepared and positioned to be hired. Closing this loop is essential. By investing in integrated, collaborative workforce development strategies, we can build a more inclusive and effective labor ecosystem that benefits workers, employers, and our entire region.
Worker’s Advisory Council
The Workers Advisory Council is a strategic, inclusive space where workers from diverse backgrounds come together to share experiences, solve problems, and shape workforce solutions. Focused on intersectional issues like race, gender, and more, the Council creates space for honest dialogue and drives systemic change. Through regular meetings and collaboration with stakeholders, it informs policy, strengthens workforce strategies, and builds solidarity—advancing a more equitable, worker-centered economy.
Illustration by Trent Wakenight.
IE Promise
The IE Promise is an institutional commitment and partnership across school districts and counties to raise awareness and educate students in the Inland Empire about alternative pathways to employment and success toward union & good paying jobs. With the IE Promise, we are continuing to raise awareness about pre-apprenticeships in the region, by promoting pre-apprenticeship programs, enabling students to secure jobs after high school, regardless of whether they choose college or trades, it is an opportunity to enhance the workforce in the local economy.
Plug In IE
Plug In IE is the Inland Empire Labor Institute’s workforce development initiative established in 2021 to lead a High Road Training Partnership in sustainable logistics in partnership with Teamsters Local 1932 and the Warehouse Worker Resource Center and lead in the shift towards a green local economy.
Economic Development
Economic development shapes the future of our communities—and in the Inland Empire, we urgently need a more inclusive and sustainable approach.
For too long, investment has focused heavily on logistics and warehousing. While it brought jobs, many are low-wage, offer little advancement, and contribute to pollution and public health issues. Now, with automation and global shifts, even this once-reliable sector is in decline—proving that relying on a single industry is both risky and unsustainable.
Economic development should mean more than job creation—it should mean quality jobs, community power, and long-term opportunity. We’re committed to building that future—by and for the Inland Empire.
It’s time to reimagine economic development—led by the people it serves. The Inland Empire is full of skilled, resilient individuals who deserve access to good jobs across diverse sectors like clean energy, healthcare, education, tech, and the arts. These industries offer better wages, stability, and healthier communities.
Thrive Inland SoCal
A Regional Investment Initiative, in partnership with California Jobs First, with the Inland Empire Labor Institute and Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity as the Regional Co-Conveners, and the Inland Empire Community Foundation serving as the Fiscal Agent, carrying out necessary responsibilities as required by the State of California.
Cooperatives Development
In the Inland Empire, the dominance of the logistics and warehousing industry has created a landscape where many workers are stuck in low-wage jobs with little to no job security, limited opportunities for advancement, and minimal say in their working conditions. While these jobs may support short-term economic activity, they often fail to provide the stability and dignity that families need to truly thrive. To build a more equitable and resilient local economy, we must think beyond traditional models—and begin to create systems that put people and communities first. One powerful solution is worker-owned cooperatives. In a region that has long been shaped by extractive industries, cooperatives represent a bold, people-centered alternative. They show us what’s possible when we invest in workers, support one another, and take collective ownership of our work and our future. We believe that by building and supporting worker cooperatives, we can create a more just, inclusive, and thriving Inland Empire—one where all people have the opportunity not just to survive, but to lead and flourish.
Let’s Work Together,
And build a more sustainable and worker-centered Inland Empire.
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