About The Conference
While the Inland Empire has experienced the strongest local job growth in Southern California since the Great Recession, expansion of the region’s housing stock has been woefully slow relative to past cycles.
Housing scarcity is a natural barrier to growth in any labor force and the Inland Empire’s lack of work force growth has led to the tightest labor market the region has ever experienced. Employers are already finding it difficult to fill positions—and that struggle will intensify unless there is a surge in new housing construction locally.
- Why hasn’t the Inland Empire’s housing stock kept up with demand?
- What does the shortage mean for local home prices, rents, and demographics given that employers across Southern California are competing for a limited supply of workers?
The 2019 Inland Empire Economic Forecast Conference, hosted by the UC Riverside School of Business, featured some of the nation’s leading economists along with key business and government leaders from across the region. A roster of vibrant speakers answered pressing questions about the IE's housing and economic future. If you couldn’t join us this year, we hope to see you in 2020!
Featured Speakers
Director
Center for Economic Forecasting & Development
U.S. & California Forecast
Executive Director of ResearchCenter for Economic Forecasting & Development
Inland Empire Forecast
The Case of the Missing Homes:A Conversation Moderated by Christopher Thornberg
Prior to the Great Recession, 50,000 new housing units were being permitted annually in the Inland Empire. Today, the number of permits being filed is just over one-fourth that amount despite the availability of thousands of build-ready lots. With labor force growth at its weakest point in years and unemployment at a record low level, the issue of housing scarcity is taking on an economic dimension not seen before in the Inland Empire. How can local leaders change the situation before it becomes a crisis? Two of California’s leading experts on housing policy and community development and transformation joined Christopher Thornberg for a revealing conversation about the IE’s housing scarcity challenge and ways to solve it.
Panelists
Associate Professor, Urban Planning and Public Policy
UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Take Aways & Benefits
Economic Insights
The 2019 Inland Empire Economic Forecast Conference Book, complete with data and graphics illustrating where housing prices, employment, personal income, and other major economic indicators are heading
Regular Updates
Quarterly updates to the forecast by email
Networking Opportunities
The opportunity to network with hundreds of government and business leaders from across the region
2019 Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Creative Partner
