Job crisis in the High Desert: where has all the decent work gone?

The job crisis in the High Desert is no new phenomenon; many residents have either struggled to find employment themselves or knows someone who has.

It's commonplace for locals to apply to at least a dozen jobs before hearing back, if at all. Interview after interview with no positive result can quickly deter qualified individuals from being ready and willing to work.

Struggling High Desert residents are faced with the burning question: are the only solutions moving forward remote work and working down the hill?

The average job in the High Desert pays $44,396 less than surrounding markets like Riverside and Corona, as found by a 2019 survey conducted by Inland Empire economist John Husing. This survey addressed poverty in the High Desert. It determined that 40% of residents reported a "lack of job opportunity" as one of the area's most negative aspects.

With six 99 Cents Only stores closing next week, the problem may get worse.

Numbers talk

The Victorville unemployment rate was 8.10% as of February 2024, the highest it's been since the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. To put these numbers into perspective, Victorville's unemployment rate is substantially higher than the federal rate , which was 3.80% as of March 2024.

It's even higher than the state unemployment rate, which, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , is 5.3% as of February 2024, making California the state with the highest unemployment rate.

In addition, Hesperia's unemployment rate is currently 7.30%, Apple Valley's is 6.40%, and Adelanto's is 10.50%. Every one of these High Desert municipalities has unemployment rates higher than the state and national average, confirming that it's become increasingly more difficult to find a job in the Desert.

What does the community have to say?

The Daily Press asked High Desert residents their thoughts on the local job market. Here's what we learned:

In response to a Daily Press inquiry, Jessica Murrillo stated that the jobs available in the High Desert require a "high workload for low pay." Individuals with degrees are offered minimum-wage jobs, and companies are unwilling to accommodate employees' schedules, she said.

Christina Asher wants to know why desert residents have to commute down the Cajon Pass for a decent wage.

"Commuting for higher pay isn't worth the gas prices," Murrillo echoed. "Not when you don't get home until 7:30 p.m. and need to be up again by 5 a.m. the next morning." The unpaid hours sitting in traffic aren't worth the extra $1 or $2 an hour, she added.

Other High Desert residents want to know why "ghosting" is prevalent among desert employers. Henry Vega's "qualified" girlfriend has gone to countless interviews for companies that said they were hiring but rarely hears back from them. His girlfriend has been looking for a job in the High Desert for three years with no luck, according to Vega.

Ashlee Husa has consistently applied for jobs for the past two years with only one interview. She also highlights another concern: Even new businesses are unreliable for employment.

The 800 applications that the new Sprouts in Victorville received are a prime example of the job crisis in the High Desert. Ninety lucky residents were hired, but how often does a successful chain business open its doors to the High Desert needing this magnitude of new employees? The combination of small businesses in the area that are hiring cannot possibly accommodate nearly half of the 710 rejected Sprouts applicants.

Community member Brandon Fierro has experienced this frustration: "They have help wanted signs, but when you ask, they say they aren't hiring. When you do find a job that is actually hiring, 30,000 other people in the desert have already found the same job and applied before you could."

The "flip side"

A recurring opinion among desert locals not personally affected by the job crisis seems to pinpoint the issue's root as "laziness" among the "younger generations." Some are sure those who can't find a decent job are trying to start at the top.

Brian LaCroix is convinced that the "state-mandated $20 an hour for fast food workers" can only result in more small businesses closing. He's confident nobody will work for a small restaurant if they can work for higher wages at a franchise restaurant and sees the new generation of workers as too picky.

Linda Castrejon shares LaCroix's view, "If people are hungry, they’re gonna work." It doesn't matter what type of job; if there are mouths to feed, people find a way. "You may have to start cleaning offices and schools, but at least you're starting somewhere." Castrejon wishes everybody looking for a job good luck.

The problem isn't as complex as it seems, according to community member Sarah Agueros. "If businesses could afford to hire more, they would." Agueros believes High Desert companies are struggling just as much as everyone else because of inflation.

So, what's the issue?

The issue seems to be that the demand for jobs in the High Desert area is out of proportion to job availability.

"The High Desert needs to attract more companies," Theresa Thomas told The Daily Press. She says companies don’t want to relocate to the High Desert because of demographics, poverty, and other political issues like crime and homelessness.

Like many other High Desert residents, Thomas's husband has to leave the house two to three hours earlier for work in hopes that he will make it on time amid the construction and commuter traffic.

This brings us back to where all the decent work has gone up the hill.

What types of jobs are hiring now in the High Desert?

High Desert residents don't have to resort to selling their plasma, which is actual money-making activity in the High Desert.

Look for new establishments. Victorville opened its doors to 200 new businesses in 2023 and is on the same path to development for this year, according to a recent High Desert mayor panel .

Daily Press covered the panel, during which Mayor Nassif of Apple Valley announced the projected plan for 20 million square feet of warehousing and industrial development in the entitlement process.

Speedier options to look for may be newly-opened establishments such as the Sprouts in Victorville, Mister Car Wash in Apple Valley, Dutch Bros. in Hesperia, Superior Grocers supermarket in Victorville, McDonald's Victorville, and Ihop in Barstow.

Even if preliminary positions have been filled, many new employees quit within the first few weeks of employment, creating a need for a fresh batch of workers. These may be entry-level positions, but there is always room for intra-company growth.

Additionally, a new 170-bed elder care facility, the High Desert Peace Center , is set to open sometime this year.

For High Desert residents looking for a quicker answer for long-term work, the answer may be to learn a trade.

The future of High Desert jobs

High Desert officials expect big business booms in the upcoming months, which will hopefully kickstart a drastic decline in the area's unemployment rates. What’s missing right now, however, are higher-paying sectors.

High Desert residents can stay tuned for the influx of higher-paying industrial-sector jobs, but for the time being, remote work and trades appear to be some of the only solutions to the job crisis.

Trade school may take a year or two, but it often takes High Desert residents the same time to find a decent job there. The same time can be spent learning a valuable, recession-proof trade that guarantees a steady workload.

Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC businesses consistently employ people in the High Desert due to frequent growth and development, as confirmed by the recent development-focused mayor panel.

Another option is finding a remote entry- or mid-level position. Indeed and LinkedIn are great resources for finding jobs where you can work from home until something better comes along. Personal assistant jobs, scheduling jobs, call center jobs, and other entry-level positions typically require little experience.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Job crisis in the High Desert: where has all the decent work gone?