Kern County – California’s hot spot for warehouse and distribution

Meeting the demands of California’s 36 million consumers is the reason many warehouse distribution centers are located in the state.

Kern County’s economy and labor force are unique when compared to much of California. Historically the economy has been tied to the oil and agriculture industries, which often created fluctuating employment. Kern County welcomes warehouse and distribution facilities because they provide the stable jobs the county needs.

• The Bakersfield MSA is the largest city (population: 451,800) in Kern County and serves as the county seat. Kern County's population is 800,000, making it the 12th most populous county in California. (www.kedc.com, December 2006)
• By the year 2010, the population of Kern County is projected to exceed one million people (California Department of Finance Demographic Research Unit, December 2006).

Affordable housing provides stable workforce & high quality of life

• One of the key factors leading to Kern County's increase in population is the affordability of its housing market. According to 2006 Fourth Quarter statistics from the Kern Economic Journal, Kern County ranks as the most affordable housing market in all of California.
• Kern's median housing value is $268,300; in comparison, the State of California's median housing price is $535,470.

Higher quality of life equals low turnover

• The major warehouse and logistics employers in the county report turnover rates often lower than 10% - a rate almost unheard of in the industry.
• In 2006 Bakersfield was named a “boomtown” for doing business by Inc.com Magazine, a resource directed towards entrepreneurs. In naming its top 20 midsize cities based on the overall business growth and environment, Bakersfield was ranked 10th in the nation!

Kern County offers an available and quality labor force

• The labor force is clamoring for jobs that offer year round employment with a basic benefit package. The current unemployment rate for Kern County is 7.7%, compared to Los Angeles County which is 4.2%
• IKEA Distribution Center had 13 applicants for every job opening; Oneida Distribution Center had 6 applicants for every job opening.