Quick answer: Workforce development West Valley partners can support looks different city to city. Chino Hills has a 48.1% bachelor's degree rate, while Montclair's is 18.8% and its poverty rate is 17.7%. Ontario, the region's largest city, has a 12.4% poverty rate and an economy built on air cargo and warehousing. The Ayangbah Foundation, a San Bernardino nonprofit, delivers short job training live online and in person, and invites cities, schools, health systems and funders to sponsor cohorts and free youth programs.
Workforce Development West Valley Context: The Economy at a Glance
The West Valley sits at the western edge of San Bernardino County, where the Inland Empire meets Los Angeles County. The six cities in this brief are home to more than 650,000 people combined, based on U.S. Census estimates. The area holds Ontario International Airport, a major air-cargo hub for UPS and FedEx, along with large distribution centers, two state prisons in Chino and a strong healthcare and education base.
It is also an area of contrasts. Median household income in Chino Hills is $126,334. In Montclair it is $77,659. Many West Valley jobs start through staffing agencies or seasonal assignments, and workers need clear skills to turn temporary work into a permanent role.
West Valley 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.
- Ontario: 187,013 residents; 78.1% high school graduate; 22.5% bachelor's; 12.4% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Rancho Cucamonga: 177,856 residents; 91.5% high school graduate; 37.5% bachelor's; 8.0% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Upland: 79,446 residents; 91.2% high school graduate; 37.3% bachelor's; 9.3% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Montclair: 37,563 residents; 74.2% high school graduate; 18.8% bachelor's; 17.7% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Chino: 96,957 residents; 85.7% high school graduate; 27.2% bachelor's; 8.0% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
- Chino Hills: 77,519 residents; 93.2% high school graduate; 48.1% bachelor's; 7.6% poverty (U.S. Census QuickFacts, 2025 estimate; ACS 2020–2024).
Where Workforce Development West Valley Investment Matters Most
The data points to two groups of residents who benefit most from short, practical training.
- Montclair and Ontario adults without a diploma. About one in four adults in Montclair (74.2% graduate rate) and more than one in five in Ontario (78.1%) have no high school diploma. Our programs do not require one.
- Working adults in high-income cities. Even in Chino Hills and Rancho Cucamonga, 7.6% and 8.0% of residents live in poverty. These neighbors are often hidden in averages.
Employer lists show what skills are in demand. Ontario International Airport, UPS and Workforce Personnel, Inc. each employ 5,000 to 9,999 people, according to the City of Ontario's 2023 financial report. Inland Empire Health Plan is Rancho Cucamonga's largest employer with 3,511 workers. San Antonio Regional Hospital in Upland employs about 2,000. Chino's largest employers include Chino Valley Unified, a Walmart Fulfillment Center, FedEx Ground, Amazon and KeHe Distributors, according to Champion Newspapers.
Across logistics, healthcare and health plans, employers want people who communicate clearly, handle customers well and work confidently in Excel and Outlook. Read more in our guides to job training in Ontario and job training in Chino Hills.
Access: Online Plus a Direct Train Ride
West Valley residents can take every class live online. Those who prefer a classroom can reach downtown San Bernardino by Metrolink from the Montclair Transit Center, one of the best-connected transit hubs in the region. Classes run during the day, in the evening and on Saturdays.
What a West Valley Partnership Could Fund
The Ayangbah Foundation (EIN 33-4528503) is a 501(c)(3) in downtown San Bernardino. It is registered in SAM.gov, listed in CalJOBS, and approved as a work-experience worksite by the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department. It has hosted and mentored 10 interns so far. Its founder, Dr. Shirley Ayangbah, is an economist and professor.
- A sponsored cohort of the 40-hour Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training certificate ($1,200 per participant), for residents moving from staffing assignments to direct hire.
- Excel and QuickBooks seats ($297 each) for warehouse leads, office staff and small business owners.
- Conversational Mandarin Chinese ($297, 8 weeks) for workers in trade and logistics roles.
- Free youth workshops through the Saturday Future Leaders Academy and our Youth Substance Use Prevention & Leadership program (ages 12 to 26).
- Government Contracting Academy seats for West Valley small businesses that want to sell to public agencies.
Learn how partnerships work on our funding paths page.
FAQ
What is the poverty rate in Montclair, CA?
According to U.S. Census QuickFacts, 17.7% of Montclair residents live in poverty, the highest rate among the six West Valley cities in this brief. About 74.2% of adults have a high school diploma.
What are the biggest employers in the West Valley of San Bernardino County?
City reports list Ontario International Airport, UPS, Inland Empire Health Plan, San Antonio Regional Hospital, school districts, and distribution employers like FedEx Ground, Amazon and Walmart among the largest.
Which West Valley city has the highest education level?
Chino Hills, where 48.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.2% have a high school diploma, per U.S. Census QuickFacts.
How can a company or city fund job training in Ontario or Montclair?
A company, city or foundation can sponsor a training cohort, fund free youth workshops, or host participants for work experience. Call The Ayangbah Foundation at (909) 454-7076 to discuss options.
Can West Valley residents take Ayangbah Foundation classes online?
Yes. Every class is offered live online, as well as in person in downtown San Bernardino, with day, evening and Saturday sessions.
Ways to Partner
Whether you represent a city, a school district, a health plan or a company with West Valley operations, there is a practical way to help.
- Fund a program: sponsor a cohort or free youth workshops.
- Start a partnership: share your goals with our team.
- 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 Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, Montclair, Chino and Chino Hills (2025 population estimates; 2020–2024 American Community Survey); City of Ontario 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (via Wikipedia); City of Rancho Cucamonga 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (via Wikipedia); City of Upland 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (via Wikipedia); Champion Newspapers, "Top employers in Chino Valley" (June 2024); Wikipedia, "Ontario International Airport."