Business
California Job Growth Keeps on Rolling
State Has Added 250,000 Jobs in 2023 Alone… But Labor Force Struggles to Continue; State Unemployment Rate Remains Elevated Compared To Nation
California’s labor market continued to expand in May, with total nonfarm employment in the state growing by 47,300 positions, according to an analysis released today by Beacon Economics. April’s gains were also revised up to 69,900 in the latest numbers, a 2,900 increase from the preliminary estimate of 67,000.
As of May 2023, there are now 415,600 more people employed in California compared to February 2020, the pre-pandemic peak of payroll employment. Total nonfarm employment in the state has grown 2.4% during this time compared to a 2.5% increase in the nation as a whole. From May 2022 to May 2023, California also increased payrolls by 2.4%, trailing the 2.7% increase nationally over the same period.
“Although the writers’ strike and recent tech industry layoffs have captured headlines, overall, California employers have continued to expand payrolls,” said Taner Osman, Research Manager at Beacon Economics. “In the first five months of this year, the state’s economy has added more than 250,000 jobs, and during a time when many forecasted that we’d be in recession. Moreover, we haven’t yet moved into a seasonally strong period of the year.”
California’s unemployment rate remained at 4.5% in May, unchanged from the previous month. The state’s unemployment rate remains elevated relative to the 3.7% rate in the United States overall. California is continuing to struggle with its labor supply, which grew by 24,700 in May, an increase of 0.1% on a month-over-month basis. Since February 2020, the state’s labor force has contracted by 171,200 workers, a 0.9% decline.
Industry Profile
- At the industry level, job gains were broad-based in the latest numbers. Health Care led the way with payrolls expanding by 15,300, an increase of 0.6% on a month-over-month basis. The Health Care sector accounted for nearly one in three of the net jobs added in the state in May. Health Care payrolls are now up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis.
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services was the next best performing sector, adding 11,600 jobs, a month-over-month increase of 0.8%. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services payrolls are now up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis.
- Other sectors posting strong gains during the month were Leisure and Hospitality (9,800 or 0.5%), Construction (6,500 or 0.7%), Other Services (5,700 or 1.0%), Retail Trade (5,200 or 0.3%), Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (2,400 or 0.3%), Government (2,200 or 0.1%), Education (1,100 or 0.3%), and Finance and Insurance (1,000 or 0.2%).
- Payrolls decreased in only a handful of sectors in May. Wholesale Trade saw the largest declines, with payrolls falling by 5,800, a drop of 0.9% on a month-over-month basis. The only other sectors with significant job losses during the month were Manufacturing (-5,700 or -0.4%) and Information (-2,800 or 0.5%).
Regional Profile
- Regionally, job gains were led by Southern California. Los Angeles (MD) saw the largest increase, where payrolls grew by 8,400 (0.2%) during the month. The Inland Empire 7,700 or 0.3%), Orange County (3,500 or 0.2%), San Diego (3,300 or 0.2%), and Ventura (1,600 or 0.5%) also saw their payrolls expand during the month. Over the past year, San Diego (2.9%), Orange County (2.9%), and El Centro (2.9%) saw the fastest job growth in the region, followed by Los Angeles (MD) (2.5%), Ventura (2.2%), and the Inland Empire (1.1%).
- In the San Francisco Bay Area, the East Bay experienced the largest increase, with payrolls expanding by 4,700 (0.4%) positions in May. San Francisco (MD) (3,600 or 0.3%), San Jose (1,400 or 0.1%), San Rafael (MD) (500 or 0.4%), Vallejo (400 or 0.3%), and Napa (200 or 0.3%) also saw payrolls expand during the month. Over the past 12 months, Napa (2.9%) and San Francisco (MD) (2.9%) have enjoyed the fastest job growth in the region, followed by San Jose (2.8%), Vallejo (2.4%), the East Bay (2.3%), Santa Rosa (2.2%), and San Rafael (MD) (1.5%).
- In the Central Valley, Sacramento experienced the largest monthly increase, where payrolls expanded by 6,800 (0.6%) positions in May. Payrolls in Bakersfield (1,200 or 0.4%), Fresno (1,100 or 0.3%), Modesto (800 or 0.4%), Visalia (400 or 0.3%), and Hanford (400 or 0.9%) also saw their payrolls jump during the month. Over the past year, Hanford (6.4%) has enjoyed the fastest growth, followed by Madera (4.0%), Fresno (3.3%), Visalia (3.1%), Yuba (3.0%), Sacramento (2.8%), Modesto (2.7%), Redding (2.5%), Stockton (2.3%), and Bakersfield (2.3%).
- On California’s Central Coast, Santa Barbara (1,000 or 0.5%) added the largest number of jobs. Salinas (700 or 0.5%), San Luis Obispo (400 or 0.3%), and Santa Cruz (200 or 0.2%) also saw payrolls increase during the month. From May 2022 to May 2023, Salinas (4.0%) has added jobs at the fastest rate, followed by San Luis Obispo (3.2%), Santa Cruz (3.1%), and Santa Barbara (3.0%).
Business
Unisource Solutions Grows Its Inland Empire Presence with the Addition of TOTALPLAN Business Interiors
Southern California’s leading workplace design and furnishings resource deepens its regional presence by uniting with a 57-year Inland Empire institution.
Unisource Solutions, California’s Haworth Best in Class dealership and a comprehensive workplace design resource, has announced the acquisition of TOTALPLAN a fixture of the Inland Empire business community since 1969. The strategic partnership brings together two organizations with a combined heritage of more than 80 years of expertise, unifying their complementary strengths to better serve businesses, architects, and interior designers across the Inland Empire.
Founded in 1987, Unisource Solutions has built its reputation as far more than a furniture dealer. The company operates as a full-service design resource — offering space planning, workplace strategy and analytics, installation services, project management, and custom furnishings through its in-house brand, Platform by Unisource Solutions. With access to more than 300 manufacturers, Unisource serves clients across corporate, healthcare, higher education, and financial sectors.

TOTALPLAN has spent more than five decades cultivating trusted relationships with businesses of all sizes throughout the Inland. Under the leadership of owner Denny Fosdick, TOTALPLAN earned a reputation for quality service, community investment, and a deep understanding of the regional market.
“For over 57 years, TOTALPLAN has been dedicated to providing exceptional workspace solutions throughout the Inland Empire and beyond. Now, we’re excited to join forces with Unisource Solutions. This partnership brings together our deep community roots with Unisource’s extensive resources and capabilities. I’m proud to pass the torch to a fellow Inland Empire resident who understands this community and will carry on the legacy we’ve built here.” —Denny Fosdick, Owner, TOTALPLAN Business Interiors
Jamal Nasserdeen, President of Unisource Solutions, who grew up in the Inland Empire, expressed the personal significance of the acquisition and its implications for Unisource’s long-term growth strategy in the region.
“Growing up and living in the Inland Empire, it’s a true honor to build on the tremendous 57-year legacy that Denny and his team have established. This partnership marks a pivotal moment in our growth journey, significantly expanding our capabilities throughout the region and strengthening our position as Southern California’s premier workplace solutions provider. It’s a privilege to bring TOTALPLAN into the Unisource Solutions family.” — Jamal Nasserdeen, President, Unisource Solutions
The partnership also carries the endorsement of Haworth, the globally recognized furniture manufacturer for which Unisource holds its Best-in-Class dealer designation. Tom Peyton, Haworth’s Regional Vice President for the West Region, noted that the partnership reinforces the strength of Unisource’s regional coverage and honors the trusted relationships TOTALPLAN has spent decades building.
The combined organization now brings a unified offering across workplace design, multi brand furniture sourcing, custom fabrication through Platform by Unisource Solutions, and comprehensive facilities services including delivery, installation, reconfiguration, and relocation support. Clients across architecture, interior design, and corporate facilities teams will benefit from a single, deeply resourced partner capable of supporting projects from initial concept through move-in.
For businesses in the Inland Empire seeking to transform their workspaces, the new partnership signals expanded local access to a nationally capable team, one that is deeply invested in the communities it serves.
Business
Ontario Set to Open Newest Play Street Museum Location
A children’s museum and indoor play area that lets imaginations wander open soon to local community
Play Street Museum, an interactive children’s museum and indoor play area purposefully designed to encourage a young child’s sense of independence, exploration, and creativity, will be opening its newest franchise location in the coming weeks in Ontario, California. Locally owned by Teresa and Sergio Carreras, the coming location marks a key milestone in an expanding franchise program, with its first location in California.
“We’re thrilled to bring the newest Play Street Museum to Ontario for our local community to enjoy,” shared Teresa and Sergio Carreras. “After visiting Play Street Museum with our grandchildren, we knew we had to bring a location to California, and we’re excited to share it with the community and hope it serves Inland Empire families in big ways.”
“We’re proud empty nesters and even prouder grandparents of five wonderful grandchildren. Becoming grandparents has been one of the greatest joys of our lives. This season of life has given us the opportunity to slow down and truly savor the wonder of childhood again,” continued Carreras. “We look forward to welcoming local families, schools, and community groups to experience everything the new Play Street Museum has to offer.”
Teresa and Sergio Carreras believe children learn best when they’re having fun and can touch, build, pretend, and explore. Every exhibit at Play Street Museum Ontario is designed to spark curiosity, creativity and confidence. Whether children are running a pretend grocery store, experimenting with simple science, creating art, or climbing into imaginative worlds, children are learning skills that will stay with them for a lifetime. “This space is not just for kids. It’s for grandparents who cherish story time in a cozy corner. For parents who light up watching their child try something new. For caregivers who treasure the laughter and togetherness of play,” shared Carreras.
Play Street Museum offers an expansive, rotating curriculum at each location specifically designed for children under nine years of age. Everyday and every week is different at Play Street Museum, providing motivation and justification
for a scheduled time in families’ busy calendars. Play Street Museum Ontario also offers one-of-a-kind birthday parties, complete with comprehensive themes and options for parents from “Do-It-Yourself” to “Sit Back & Relax”, in addition to special events and activities during evenings and weekends.
In Scientific American’s article, “The Need for Pretend Play in Child Development”, Yale professor Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman summarized the last 75 years of research by declaring imaginative play as a “vital component to the normal development of a child.” By narrowing the focus of Play Street Museum and its indoor play areas to the interests and imaginations of children eight and under, young explorers discover educational exhibits and activities in a world specifically crafted just for them. The deliberate and manageable scale enables children to self-navigate throughout the children’s museum and indoor play area to engage deeply in activities about which they are most interested and passionate. This freedom reinforces independence in the child and also has the benefit of creating a more relaxed and accommodating museum experience for the caregiver.
“Play Street Museum is thrilled to welcome and open the Ontario location soon with our incredible partners, Teresa and Sergio Carreras. As parents and grandparents, they understand the powerful impact of play and intentionally sought to bring its benefits to this part of the Ontario area. They’ve taken their passion for children, education, and play and applied it to building a dynamic, local business that will support the health and well-being of their own community,” commented Play Street Museum Founder and CEO, Courtney Muccio.
Located at 910 North Haven Avenue, Suite 150, the new Ontario location makes the extensive, and well researched benefits of play easily accessible to the local community. The museum’s team of highly knowledgeable associates can provide guidance on additional opportunities to expand the play and learning, either on site or at home, from corresponding activity kits, to pottery, to slime kits, to sensory kits. Customers can also book their play time in advance in addition to schedule birthday parties or private events.
Families and customers can visit
https://www.ontario.playstreetmuseum.com/ to book playtime, birthday parties, field trips, and to check out special events.
Business
Sweet Success: The Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce Teams with The Freaky Cookie to Elevate Local WBENC-Certified Business
How The Freaky Cookie Grew with Chamber Support: A WBENC Success Story in the Inland Empire
At the Inland Empire Regional Chamber of Commerce (IERCC), we pride ourselves on championing business growth and recognizing the powerful stories of our members. One standout example is Sheila Cavalier, founder of The Freaky Cookie—a fun and rebellious cookie catering company she launched in 2018 alongside her son, Marcus.

What began as a direct-to-consumer venture has grown into a business-to-business powerhouse, fueled by innovation, strategy, and strong community ties. The Freaky Cookie specializes in custom-labeled, individually wrapped cookies for corporate gifts, bulk orders, and special events. Their nostalgic family recipe, dating back over 90 years, delivers both flavor and flair. As Cavalier puts it, “There’s never not a need for a large amount of cookies.”
Recognizing a unique market opportunity during the pandemic, Sheila pivoted the business model to focus on custom-branded cookies—meeting the surge in demand for individually packaged baked goods that also serve as creative marketing tools. “Corporations were tired of traditional marketing,” she recalls. “Our custom-labeled cookies became a fun, fresh alternative.”
In 2022, Sheila connected with IERCC President Edward Ornelas Jr. during the Multi-Chamber Mixer at Ontario International Airport. That meeting led to The Freaky Cookie joining IERCC, which soon opened doors to strategic partnerships and increased visibility. Through the chamber’s vast network and advocacy, Sheila has built relationships with organizations such as Bank of America, Fifth Third Bank, Top Golf, and Southwest Airlines, which featured The Freaky Cookie in their 50th Anniversary celebration at ONT.
“The IERCC has been a warm and welcoming space,” Cavalier said. “Having the chamber validate our business really means something. It’s helped us get our foot in the door with so many great companies.”
The impact has been tangible. With increased revenue and expanded operations, The Freaky Cookie is no longer just a clever name—it’s a growing force in regional commerce. As Sheila puts it, her goal now is simple but powerful: “Deliver smiles.”
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