An Estimated 10,000 Skilled Workers Commute to the Coast from the Temecula Valley. What If They Didn't Have To? Every morning, thousands of engineers, technicians, and skilled tradespeople leave the Temecula Valley and head down the I-15 to jobs in San Diego and Los Angeles. They build aircraft components, develop medical devices, program CNC machines, and design the clean energy systems of tomorrow.

Today we're releasing the 2026 Outbound Labor Analysis, a new look at where our workforce goes each day and what that means for the Valley's economic future.

The Valley by the numbers

The five-city Temecula Valley (Temecula, Murrieta, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, and Menifee) is home to roughly 200,800 employed residents. About 84% work outside their home city. Much of that is movement within the Valley, but the report estimates that 25,000 to 40,000 or more residents commute to the San Diego and Los Angeles/Orange County job centers.
Commute times are long. The Valley average is roughly 39 minutes each way, and in Menifee, 12.2% of workers report super-commutes of more than 90 minutes.

The talent we're exporting
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We zeroed in on four industries that anchor the coastal economy: aerospace and defense, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and clean technology. Across the occupations that support those sectors, we estimate about 10,080 Valley residents commute out for work, roughly 65% to San Diego County and 35% to Los Angeles and Orange counties.
The mix is broad:

• Engineers: mechanical, aerospace, electrical, electronics, biomedical, and industrial
• Production and skilled trades: team assemblers, welders, machinists, CNC operators, and electricians
• Science and lab roles: chemists, biochemists, and lab technicians
• Cross-industry talent: software developers and engineering managers

These are good jobs. Average annual wages in the report range from about $51,000 for production roles to more than $203,000 for engineering managers.

Why this matters

Our residents have already built the skills that high-value employers need. Many of them would welcome the chance to use those skills closer to home.
For an aerospace supplier, a medical-device manufacturer, or a clean-tech company weighing where to grow, the Valley offers something rare: an experienced workforce already living here, more affordable housing than the coast, and a chance to offer employees a shorter commute and a better quality of life. That's a retention advantage as much as a cost advantage.

What comes next

​This report is a starting point. We'll use it to focus business attraction on the four industry clusters and work with our workforce and education partners to align training with the occupations identified. We also plan to refine these estimates with more detailed commuting data as needed for site-selection conversations.

Download the full report below:

Since first establishing operations in Temecula in 1989, MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has grown its Temecula site into a center for advanced biomedical and biotechnical manufacturing.

Today, the team in Temecula supports work ranging from antibody development to stem cell technologies, providing products and services used by biotech, pharmaceutical companies, researchers, and academic institutions around the world. That work helps scientists better understand disease and develop new therapies.
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In recent years, the site has expanded its focus on organoids, which are miniature, three-dimensional biological models that replicate key functions of human organs. These models are helping researchers make progress in areas such as disease modeling, drug screening, and personalized medicine.
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Growing Organoid Innovation Hub: MilliporeSigma expanded its organoid capabilities in 2025 with the acquisition of HUB Organoids, adding expertise and intellectual property that strengthened the company’s cell culture portfolio. This work reinforces the company’s commitment to differentiated solutions that enable faster and more effective drug development.

​​“Every day, our team helps shape the future of science, directly supporting life-saving research happening across the globe. Temecula has been an important part of that story for decades. With growing capabilities in organoids, strong expertise in antibody technologies, and a deep commitment to the community, the site will continue to playan important role in our future."
Matthew Hyatt - Head of Head of Operations for the West Coast region


Building on that momentum, MilliporeSigma recently established a new organoid development lab in Temecula. The lab is focused on developing patient-stem cell–derived models that closely represent patient diseases and responses to treatment.
As interest in organoid technology continues to grow, the work in Temecula is playing an increasingly important role in helping bring these tools to researchers working on cancer, drug development and other areas of biomedical science, unlocking insights that were previously out of reach with conventional technologies.

Additionally, local employees are active in SPARKTM, MilliporeSigma’s global volunteer program designed to unite employees around the globe in their shared commitment to giving back to their local communities. The company’s skills-based science education outreach programs, including Curiosity LabsTM in- classroom, hands-on lessons and the Curiosity CubeTM mobile science lab, focus on increasing access to science education for 8–13-year-old students. The programs are staffed by employees who volunteer their time and expertise to spark curiosity in the next generation of scientists.
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“Every day, our team helps shape the future of science, directly supporting life-saving research happening across the globe,” said Matthew Hyatt, Head of Head of Operations for the West Coast region. “Temecula has been an important part of that story for decades. With growing capabilities in organoids, strong expertise in antibody technologies, and a deep commitment to the community, the site will continue to play an important role in our future.”



The Southern California Wine Country EDC is a nonprofit economic-development organization serving Temecula, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and southwestern Riverside County. For more than 30 years, the EDC has helped businesses relocate, expand or start up in one of Southern California’s fastest-growing and most strategic regions. Leveraging partnerships, incentives and a business-friendly environment, the EDC is committed to fostering sustainable growth, innovation and quality of life.
SoCalWineCountryEDC.com​

April 1, 2026

The SoCal Wine Country Economic Development Coalition (EDC) continues to advance its mission of fostering economic growth and innovation by spotlighting companies like Symbio, a leading hydrogen fuel cell company that established its North American headquarters in Temecula two years ago.

Symbio’s presence in the region reflects the EDC’s commitment to attracting forward-thinking industries that support sustainability and technological advancement. The company focuses on accelerating the adoption of hydrogen fuel cells in the United States, converting vehicles to run on clean energy as an alternative to traditional combustion engines.

California’s strong leadership in environmental policy and its continued investment in clean energy initiatives have also played a key role in Symbio’s success. The company has secured two state grants aimed at reducing emissions, reinforcing both its mission and the state’s commitment to a greener future.

Temecula proved to be an ideal location for Symbio’s expansion, offering strategic proximity to both Los Angeles and San Diego, while maintaining a business-friendly and high-quality living environment.

​Temecula proved to be an ideal location for Symbio’s expansion, offering strategic proximity to both Los Angeles and San Diego, while maintaining a business-friendly and high-quality living environment.

“Temecula is a favorable place to open our North American headquarters,” said Capucine Dumont, HR Manager North America at Symbio. “Temecula serves as a strategic hub for numerous businesses, fostering a strong ecosystem that supports our operations. The region’s relatively affordable housing, both for renting and ownership, enhances our ability to attract and retain qualified talent. Coupled with a high quality of life, including distinctive amenities such as the wineries and Old Town, Temecula offers a uniquely appealing environment for our team.”

The SoCal Wine Country EDC sees Symbio’s success as a strong example of how the region can support both innovative industries and workforce development.

“Symbio’s decision to locate in Temecula reinforces our region’s growing reputation as a hub for innovation and clean technology,” said Connie Stopher, CEO of the SoCal Wine Country EDC. “With California leading the way in advancing green initiatives, we are proud to support companies that are shaping the future of transportation while contributing to our local economy and quality of life.”

As the region continues to grow, the EDC remains focused on attracting companies that align with its vision of sustainable economic development, leveraging the area’s unique blend of lifestyle, location, and opportunity.

​by Ron Starner

​Temecula Valley is quickly making a name for itself on the global stage.

If you’re a wine enthusiast, you’re likely familiar with the wines of Napa and Sonoma Valleys. You may be less familiar, however, with the Southern California Wine Country region of Temecula Valley and surrounding towns in southwest Riverside County.
Economic development leaders in the region are working hard to change that, and judging by corporate project wins, they’re gaining traction.

From aerospace to life sciences, this stretch of Southern California in the Inland Empire is tallying an impressive roster of corporate facility expansion projects even as it grows its popular winery-based tourist business. Just ask Connie Stopher, executive director of the Southern California Wine Country Economic Development Coalition.

“Temecula 35 years ago was just a couple of stoplights. It was very rural,” she says. “We’re close to San Diego and Orange County. People could sell their $1 million condo on the coast, move here and buy a nice home for much less.”

Word is getting out as more Californians relocate each year. “Riverside is the second fastest growing county in the country,” Stopher says.
One reason for that: public safety. “Temecula and Menifee are often rated as the safest places to live in the country,” Stopher says. In Temecula, the latest crime index registers at 123 — nearly half the national average for similar‐sized cities. Riverside County’s violent crime rate is 65 per 100,000 – more than 38% below the U.S. average.

Wine enthusiasts appreciate that feeling of safety and quiet, and so does a rapidly growing collection of corporate employers in the life sciences sector. Millipore Sigma and Abbott Labs are two of the larger ones expanding in the area, notes Stopher.

“Millipore Sigma is doing a project here soon,” she says. “They do a lot of pharmaceutical manufacturing. They are a European company. Abbott also has been doing quite well. They are bringing new lines in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. We’re also growing our defense contracting business by attracting investment from parts manufacturers. Our long-term goal is to grow that industry base in the region.”

From Life Sciences to Lithium

While there are many things to like about the Temecula Valley, says Stopher, the one amenity that all investors agree upon is the award-winning wines produced here.

“We are an agricultural region in general. We grow avocados and citrus. This is where the Cuties oranges were developed and grown,” notes Stopher. “People started planting grapes here in the early 1800s. The mountains separate us from the coast. That gap allows us to grow a variety of grapes. Enough cool coastal air comes through and causes just the right dip in temperature to produce high-quality grapes. Our wines are now recognized and award-winning. We can go up against any other wine region in the world.”

Located near where Interstate 15 and Highway 79 intersect, Temecula Valley is roughly 60 miles north of San Diego and 70 miles west of Palm Springs. While the first grapes were planted by Spanish missionary padres visiting from San Luis Rey in 1820, the first commercial vineyard did not open in the valley until Vincent and Audrey Cilurzo established a local operation in 1968.

By 1984, the wine-making business had grown enough to earn an official designation as an American Viticultural Area, known as the Temecula AVA. In 2004, the name was changed to Temecula Valley AVA. In 2019, Wine Enthusiast Magazine named Temecula Valley a 10 Best Wine Travel Destination; and by 2023, the region was producing more than 500,000 cases of wine annually from nearly 50 wineries. Today, at least 52 wineries dot the valley.

Stopher says vinification businesses and the corresponding wine tourism are “a huge driver of spending. People come for the wine tasting and experiences like the casino, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, vineyards and winery tours. We get a lot of tourism from Asia and Canada.”

Stopher says her goal is to leverage the tourism appeal to attract more corporate investors. “Life sciences and pharmaceuticals are a natural fit due to our proximity to San Diego,” she says. “Aerospace is another. Smaller parts makers are already here, and we have a huge veteran population — one of the highest in the country. People finish their service and want to stay. Cleantech is another target — namely, the battery sector. We’re close to the Salton Sea, which has the world’s largest deposit of lithium.”​​

​“All of our communities are very business-friendly. Visitors were used to hearing the negative narrative about California, but you definitely won’t find that here.”
— Connie Stopher, Executive Director, Southern California Wine Country EDC

With 2.6 million people living in Riverside County, Stopher says attracting qualified workers is not a problem. “With major highways like the 15 and the 215 going up to Menifee and Riverside, getting people here is no issue. Those highways connect in Murrieta just north of Temecula. The 15 goes north to Ontario, while the 215 goes through the City of Riverside.”
Mt. San Jacinto College serves the region with worker training and maintains branch campuses in Temecula, Menifee and San Gorgonio Pass. University of California, Riverside and California State University, San Marcos are four-year schools serving the region.

‘A Less Expensive Gem’

“We know we have the labor because about 75% of our workforce commutes out of the area every day,” says Stopher. “Many of them drive four hours roundtrip every day to San Diego to work. We have 122,000 outbound commuters. If they could work 10 minutes from home, they would drop that commute. We have workers in all varieties of skillsets — from blue-collar to high-tech — and we have great workforce training partners.”

Asked what she most wants corporate executives outside of California to know, she says, “You’re not alone in not knowing about us. Our rebrand is done. Our website is launched. We want people to know that we are open for business. We are a gem. We’re only an hour from Disneyland. We’re less expensive than you think. We compare well with Las Vegas on costs. We’re cheaper than Austin, Phoenix, Denver and Seattle. When you compare us to places like the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego and other big markets, we’re cheaper than all of them.”
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Her biggest wish? “Come visit us. After our last fam tour, one of the site selectors said that this was the least California-like area of the state. When they got here, they said, ‘Wow, this is really nice.’ All of our communities are very business-friendly. Visitors were used to hearing the negative narrative about California, but you definitely won’t find that here.”​

Read the original article on Site Selection Magazine: Turning in a Vintage Performance