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How to find a job in the Inland Empire
Updated October 18, 2026
The Inland Empire, the area covering Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including Corona, Riverside and Ontario, is one of the busiest job markets in Southern California. Here's how to find work here without wasting time.
Know where the jobs are
Most openings in the area fall into a few groups:
- Warehousing, logistics and delivery, with large distribution centers around Ontario, Riverside and along the I-15 and I-10.
- Retail and food service, in every city and shopping center.
- Healthcare: hospitals, clinics, home care and medical offices.
- Manufacturing and production, including food, beverage and product plants around Corona.
- Skilled trades, construction and maintenance.
See what's open right now: jobs in Corona, jobs in Ontario and jobs in Riverside.
Search in more than one place
- Company career pages. Many large employers only take applications on their own site.
- Free job boards like Ronin 1 OpenBoard and the State of California's CalJOBS.
- America's Job Center of California offices, which offer free help with resumes, training and job leads. You can find the nearest one through CalJOBS.
- Staffing agencies, often the fastest way into warehouse and production work.
- People you know. Ask friends and family whether their workplace is hiring; referrals often get interviews first.
Apply the same day
Hourly jobs fill fast. Many employers interview the first good applicants they see, so apply as soon as you find a listing that fits, and check back every few days. Listings on Ronin 1 OpenBoard are removed after 30 days, so what you see here is recent.
Make your application easy to say yes to
- Keep your resume to one page and list the duties that match the job, like "loaded and unloaded trucks" or "handled the register and closing".
- Say clearly which days and shifts you can work.
- Mention reliable transportation if you have it.
- Use an email address with your name in it, and set up your voicemail so employers can leave a message.
- If you speak Spanish and English, say so. Being bilingual is a plus for many jobs in the area.
- No resume yet? Make one in a few minutes with our free resume builder and download it as a PDF or Word file.
Think about the commute
Distances add up in the Inland Empire. Before you apply, check the drive or bus route at the hours you would actually work. A job 15 minutes closer can be worth more than a slightly higher hourly rate.
Know your rights
California has its own minimum wage, overtime and meal and rest break rules, which are often stronger than federal law. The California Labor Commissioner explains the current minimum wage and how it applies.