Long Commutes Common for IE Residents

Forty-one percent of Riverside and San Bernardino county residents commute to a different county, according to a report released by the UC Riverside.

These residents tend to have technical skills  and earn more money, according to the report, which was prepared by Beacon Economics for the university's School of Business Administration.

The report found 41 percent of residents who commute outside the two counties for work make more than $40,000. By contrast, only 21 percent of commuters makes less than $15,000.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties have a net surplus of labor, with nearly 23 percent more working residents than available jobs.

Los Angeles County is the most popular destination for commuters who leave the two counties. Nearly 20 percent of commuters work in Los Angeles. Orange County is second at nearly 12 percent and San Diego County third at five percent.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties employ virtually the same number of people. San Bernardino County employs just under 400,000 while just over 393,000 work in Riverside County.

This is the first of a series of quarterly “Regional Intelligence Reports” that will be prepared by Beacon Economics, a research firm, for the university.

The study aims to broaden understanding of the Inland Empire's economic climate. "The forecast and reports are meant to provide Inland Southern California with insightful intelligence about the region’s economy," Nealon said in a press statement.

"The first report focuses on where Inland Southern Californian’s work, because of the implications for local labor force efficiency, economic development and the region’s transportation network," read the statement.

Some conclusions were obvious from the report, such as getting more jobs closer to home, said David W. Stewart, dean of the UC Riverside School of Business Administration.

“Retaining our workers and matching local employment opportunities with local skills, will play a significant role in Inland Southern California's economic recovery — and ultimately in our long-term growth,” he said.

Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics and one of the report’s authors, added that the study’s findings underscore the lack of in-area employment opportunities available to local residents.

“In order to capitalize on its own residents -- especially its highly skilled residents -- it will be important for Inland Southern California to cultivate new business formation and attract existing businesses into the area,” Thornberg said.

UC Riverside is one of only three UC schools that offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in business, according to Nealon.

"The School of Business Administration is a professional school that offers students a unique opportunity to learn and grow in the living laboratory that is Inland Southern California," Nealon said.