How does the Inland Empire job market affect housing?

The Inland Empire's job market cooled after the post-pandemic boom. Unemployment ran around 5.5 percent at the end of 2025, roughly matching California's average and above the national rate, and total employment grew only modestly over the year. Healthcare and government added jobs while trade, transportation, and logistics employment fell, and construction also declined. That matters for housing because jobs drive who can buy, what price range they can afford, and which corridors they commute. A stable but slower job market tends to favor well-priced homes and realistic offers over bidding wars. Julian Cesar tracks the local employment picture alongside inventory and sales data when he prepares a market report for your area.