Quick answer: High Desert workforce development is a pressing need. In every one of the six High Desert cities in this brief, at least 16.6% of residents live in poverty, and in Adelanto only 7.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. The Ayangbah Foundation, a San Bernardino nonprofit, delivers short job training live online, so Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Adelanto, Barstow and Needles residents can train without the drive down the Cajon Pass. Partners can sponsor cohorts and free youth programs.
High Desert Workforce Development: The Big Picture
The High Desert covers a huge share of San Bernardino County. Its cities are home to nearly 390,000 people combined, based on U.S. Census figures, and growth has outpaced services. Downtown San Bernardino is about 36 miles from Victorville by I-15, through a pass many residents know can be unpredictable. Barstow and Needles are much farther.
The economy is a mix of military installations, schools, healthcare, rail and a fast-growing logistics sector. The City of Victorville's 2023–24 financial report notes over six million square feet of planned industrial development approved at Foxborough Industrial Park, the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) and other sites.
High Desert City-by-City Data
Each line shows population, the share of adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, the share with a bachelor's degree or higher, and the share of residents living in poverty.
- Victorville: 141,395 residents; 79.1% high school graduate; 12.8% bachelor's; 18.4% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, V2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Hesperia: 102,605 residents; 77.3% high school graduate; 11.9% bachelor's; 16.9% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Apple Valley: 75,247 residents; 86.6% high school graduate; 18.9% bachelor's; 16.6% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Adelanto: 38,798 residents; 73.1% high school graduate; 7.7% bachelor's; 17.2% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Barstow: 24,804 residents; 86.6% high school graduate; 13.2% bachelor's; 23.1% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Needles: about 4,872 residents; about 81% high school graduate; about 10% bachelor's; 29.7% poverty (U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, via Census Reporter).
What the Data Tells High Desert Workforce Development Planners
- Poverty is region-wide. Rates run from 16.6% in Apple Valley to 29.7% in Needles. The U.S. median household income is $80,734; Barstow's is $53,380 and Needles' is $38,243.
- Degree rates are low. Four of the six cities have bachelor's rates at or below 13.2%. Short, stackable training is the fastest route to a better job for most adults here.
- The diploma gap is real. In Adelanto, 26.9% of adults have no high school diploma. In Hesperia, 22.7%. Our programs do not require one.
Employer data shows where the jobs are. Apple Valley's largest employers include Apple Valley Unified, St. Mary Regional Medical Center and a Walmart Distribution Center, per the town's 2020 financial report. Hesperia's top employer is Hesperia Unified. Barstow's include Fort Irwin National Training Center (8,451 employees), Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow and BNSF Railroad, per the city's 2025 report. In Needles, BNSF has been the anchor employer for more than a century.
These employers need workers who are organized, good with computers and clear communicators. Learn more about the sectors in our guide to growing industries in San Bernardino County.
Online Delivery Fits the High Desert
Every Ayangbah Foundation class is offered live online with a real instructor, plus in person in downtown San Bernardino. Sessions run during the day, in the evening and on Saturdays. For a shift worker in Hesperia or a military spouse in Barstow, that means training without a two-hour round trip.
The county's High Desert America's Job Center of California is at 17310 Bear Valley Road in Victorville. Our staff can help residents register in CalJOBS and check whether they may qualify for public training funds.
What a Partnership Could Fund
The Ayangbah Foundation (EIN 33-4528503) is a 501(c)(3) registered in SAM.gov and an approved work-experience worksite for the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department. It has hosted and mentored 10 interns so far.
- A sponsored High Desert cohort of the 40-hour Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training certificate (4 weeks; $1,200 per participant), delivered live online.
- Excel and QuickBooks seats (12 hours; $297 each) for office, warehouse and small business roles.
- Government Contracting Academy seats for local businesses that want to sell to federal buyers, including those near Fort Irwin and the Marine Corps base.
- Free youth workshops on fentanyl awareness, naloxone and leadership for ages 12 to 26.
Veteran and military-connected residents may also find our veterans job training guide useful.
FAQ
What is the poverty rate in Victorville, CA?
According to U.S. Census QuickFacts, 18.4% of Victorville residents live in poverty, nearly one in five. Only 12.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree.
Which High Desert city has the highest poverty rate?
Needles, where about 29.7% of residents live below the poverty line, per ACS 2020–2024 data via Census Reporter. Barstow follows at 23.1%.
Where can High Desert residents get job training without driving to San Bernardino?
The Ayangbah Foundation offers every class live online, so High Desert residents can train from home. The county's High Desert AJCC in Victorville also serves job seekers.
Who are the largest employers in the High Desert?
City and town financial reports list Fort Irwin, Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, BNSF Railroad, school districts, St. Mary Regional Medical Center and a Walmart Distribution Center among the largest.
How can a funder support High Desert workforce development?
A funder can sponsor an online training cohort for High Desert residents, fund free youth prevention workshops, or support small business training. Call (909) 454-7076 to start.
Ways to Partner
The High Desert is large and underserved. Online delivery lets a single sponsored cohort reach residents from Adelanto to Needles.
- Fund a program: sponsor an online cohort or free youth workshops.
- Start a partnership: tell us about your community.
- Give online to support training and prevention.
- See our impact and how we report it.
Or call us at (909) 454-7076.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley town, Adelanto and Barstow (2025 population estimates; ACS 2020–2024); U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Needles city, via Census Reporter; City of Victorville Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, FY 2023–24; Town of Apple Valley 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (via Wikipedia); City of Hesperia 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (via Wikipedia); City of Barstow 2025 principal employers (via Wikipedia); Wikipedia, "Needles, California"; San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department.