Quick answer: To hire and train employees in the Inland Empire, combine three things: job-ready candidates, short skills training for the people you already have, and public programs that may share the cost. The Ayangbah Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in downtown San Bernardino, offers career readiness, Excel, QuickBooks, communication and contracting training in person and live online. We are also an approved San Bernardino County work-experience worksite. This hub links every employer guide we've written, by industry, by topic and by city.
How to Hire and Train Employees in the Inland Empire
The region's largest employers range from hospitals and school districts to parcel carriers and federal bases. Kaiser Permanente employs 9,677 people in Fontana (City of Fontana 2023 ACFR). Loma Linda University and Medical Center has more than 11,838 (City of Loma Linda FY 2023 ACFR). Fort Irwin employs 8,451 near Barstow (City of Barstow 2025 report). But most Inland Empire businesses are much smaller, and many workers have no degree. In the City of San Bernardino, only 13.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree (U.S. Census QuickFacts).
That means skills training, not degrees, often decides who gets hired and promoted. Here's how we help:
- Pre-employment training. A 40-hour Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training certificate (4 weeks) covering resumes, interviews and workplace habits.
- Customized and incumbent worker training. Soft skills, customer service, public speaking and Microsoft Excel for your current team.
- Second-chance talent. Job-readiness support for reentry participants.
- Work experience. We have hosted and mentored 10 interns through the county's program.
- Small business capacity. QuickBooks, entrepreneurship workshops and our Government Contracting Academy.
Classes run day, evening and Saturday, in our ADA-accessible classroom and live online. See all employer solutions.
Employer Guides by Industry
- Training logistics and warehouse employees for leads, clerks and supervisors. Background: logistics jobs in the Inland Empire.
- Healthcare front-office training for scheduling, records and patient service roles.
- Contractor training for public bids: SAM.gov, certifications and proposals.
- Retail and hospitality employee training in San Bernardino County.
- Hiring veterans and military spouses in the High Desert.
- Growing industries in San Bernardino County.
Employer Guides by Topic
- Work Opportunity Tax Credit status and other hiring incentives.
- How to host interns through county work experience.
- On-the-job training reimbursement and ETP training funding.
- Incumbent worker training, soft skills for frontline teams and reducing turnover with training.
- Workforce training for employees and reentry job training.
By Region: Where to Hire and Train Employees in the Inland Empire
East Valley
- Rialto: distribution centers for Amazon, Target, Staples and Medline.
- Colton: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (about 3,510 employees), Colton JUSD, Lineage Logistics.
- Highland: new retail along Greenspot Road, including Costco, Lowe's and Stater Bros.
- Redlands: Redlands USD, Esri, Redlands Community Hospital.
- Loma Linda: healthcare and health education.
- Grand Terrace: manufacturers and wholesale suppliers such as Wilden Pump & Engineering.
- Yucaipa: local retail, services and small businesses.
West Valley
- Fontana: Kaiser Permanente, Amazon, trucking.
- Ontario: Ontario International Airport, UPS, staffing and warehousing.
- Rancho Cucamonga: Inland Empire Health Plan, schools, Frito Lay.
- Upland: San Antonio Regional Hospital and construction firms.
- Montclair: retail anchored by Montclair Place.
- Chino: distribution, state institutions and Chino Valley Medical Center.
- Chino Hills: schools and retail such as Costco and Lowe's.
High Desert
- Victorville: logistics and aerospace at Southern California Logistics Airport.
- Hesperia: schools, county government, retail.
- Apple Valley: St. Mary Regional Medical Center, Walmart Distribution Center.
- Adelanto: corrections and detention facilities, cannabis businesses.
- Barstow: Fort Irwin, Marine Corps Logistics Base, BNSF.
- Needles: BNSF and river and Route 66 tourism.
Mountains and Morongo Basin
- Big Bear Lake: tourism, lodging and restaurants.
- Twentynine Palms: Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center and park tourism.
- Yucca Valley: small businesses and Joshua Tree visitors.
Riverside County
- Riverside: County of Riverside, UC Riverside, Kaiser Permanente.
- Moreno Valley: March Air Reserve Base, Riverside University Health System, Amazon.
Funding That May Help
The San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department says on-the-job training funds can reimburse up to 50% of a new hire's wages for up to three months. ETP may help with incumbent training. Funding is never guaranteed, and eligibility depends on the program. The federal WOTC expired on December 31, 2025 and has not been renewed as of this writing. Learn more about funding paths.
How to Partner With Us
Tell us who you're hiring and what your team needs to learn. Send a partnership request or call (909) 454-7076. We're at 255 N. D Street in downtown San Bernardino, and every class is also live online.
FAQ
Where can I find job-ready workers in the Inland Empire?
Start with San Bernardino County Workforce Development at (800) 451-JOBS and local training nonprofits like The Ayangbah Foundation, which prepares adults through a 40-hour career readiness certificate.
Can I get paid back for training new employees in California?
Possibly. San Bernardino County's OJT program may reimburse up to 50% of a new hire's wages for up to three months, and ETP may fund some training for current workers.
What training can I get for my current employees in the Inland Empire?
Our customized and incumbent worker training covers soft skills, customer service, public speaking and Microsoft Excel. These skills fit warehouse leads, front-office staff and supervisors alike.
Can employees take training online in San Bernardino County?
Yes. Every Ayangbah Foundation class is offered live online as well as in person, with day, evening and Saturday options.
Does The Ayangbah Foundation offer forklift or OSHA certification?
Not yet. Forklift, OSHA 10, CPR/First Aid, ServSafe and other industry certifications are planned for 2027, and employers can join the interest list now.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, San Bernardino city; City of Fontana 2023 ACFR, City of Loma Linda FY 2023 ACFR, City of Barstow 2025 principal employers, City of Redlands 2025 ACFR, City of Rancho Cucamonga 2023 ACFR, City of Ontario 2023 ACFR, City of Upland 2025 ACFR, Town of Apple Valley 2020 CAFR, City of Moreno Valley 2024 ACFR (principal employers via Wikipedia); City of Highland FY 2024–25 ACFR; Wikipedia, "Rialto, California"; San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department, Business Services; IRS, "Work Opportunity Tax Credit."