The whole truth about California’s employment picture
News on the economy appears good with new national numbers on economic growth released and polls measuring the attitudes about the job market ticking up. However, in California some troubling job numbers don’t get the attention they deserve.
While quarterly economic growth numbers showed the fastest growth rate in a decade and a recent Gallup poll found 36 percent of respondents said it was a good time to find a job, compared to just 30 percent a month ago, a report on California from researchers at the Public Policy Institute pointed out some troubling numbers on the employment front.
While California’s unemployment rate dropped from 8.4 percent to 7.2 percent over the past year, PPIC researchers Monica Bandy and Sarah Bohn note the unemployment rate does not account for California adults who are underemployed, working part-time when they prefer full time employment, and those who have stopped looking for work — discouraged because they lack skills for the jobs available or cannot find jobs.
The researchers suggest that, when these areas are considered, California’s un- and under-employment number is actually 15.4 percent, or 8.2 percentage points above the official unemployment rate.
According to the blog post Bandy and Bohn wrote for the PPIC site:
“While California’s economy is improving, the recovery has not been strong or fast enough to keep up with the growth in California’s working-age population. Additionally, the recovery has been uneven across sectors and metro areas, and the unemployment rate is still higher than it was before the recession began. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California has the third-highest unemployment rate in the nation — only Mississippi and the District of Columbia have higher rates. In numerical terms, 1.35 million Californians are looking for work — and more than 35% of them have been looking for at least six months.”
Understanding the full situation of the job market and those who want to work is important to move the legislature toward reducing barriers to job creation in the Golden State.
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“…According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California has the third-highest unemployment rate in the nation.”
Impossible. Could never happen in this progessive paradise. Just ask the libtards that infest this blog.
You do a pretty good job of “infesting” this blog yourself, with all the uncalled-for disrespect you show to some of us here who try to put forth reasonable debate about issues that affect us all as Californians. Personally, I was able to come from another state to California, with little in my pocket, 58 years ago, and find gainful employment. I am very sorry that newcomers to CA, today, do not have that same luxury.
Good news, Bob! We are no longer the third worst state. The new figures are out, and we are now tied for 2nd place!
Wait . . . about that good news . . . .
But here’s the thing. As late as 2006 the Golden State was about average in unemployment. CA was at 4.8% unemployment in Nov, 2006 – vs. national 4.6%. Hence it must be Bush’s fault.
Comrade Bob
There are not enough slaver globalist service jobs and high tech imperialist trinket assembly positions. There are no manufacturing jobs, few new jobs with benefits. Many working are economically dead with no future ever/forever.
Perfect climate for stagnant wage growth while a Gala apple costs a dollar and a Roma tomato is 65 cents and a pound of baloney tends toward gourmet faire!
Power the people!
That’s true but doesn’t explain why Colliefornia is third worst.
With the DemoNcrats running things here why isn’t Colliefornia the best or at least not third worst?
Doglass? Skippy? You boyz have some ‘spaining to do.
Among other factors, the decline in the number of government jobs – such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, etc. – is listed as “a drag” on the employment numbers for California. Even with that as the case, California is outperforming most other state and world economies.
Funny how the facts present themselves when you read the support materials.
http://www.ppic.org/main/publication_show.asp?i=794
I happen to own a very small business that supplies a service to other small businesses…we have lost over three hundred accounts in the last two years, all were small businesses, that had operated for over twenty years…the only reason one would think Cal is booming, is if you’re a union member, or receiving a welfare check every month-
To the libtards that infest this blog people like you don’t count. You might as well be a cartoon character in a comic book.
Most of the jobs are low paying jobs. That cite proves figures don’t lie but liars do figure. But for trough feeders like you the economy is great.
For you every day is like Christmas, thanks to taxpayers like Kate who are struggling just to stay in business.
Oh, and of course us other folks are not taxpayers too!
Perhaps its because we have so many seeking work, who are like yourself–unable to spell the simplest words. Imagine being a citizen of the state of California and not even being able to spell the name of your own state–let alone pronounce it!
Numbers don’t lie but liars can figure. Yes, our employment numbers are up, but those reporting those great numbers don’t bother highlighting that most are in the food service and hospitality sectors. The public focus is diverted to those not making enough on minimum wages, i.e., those in the food service and hospitality sectors, and the crusade is to RAISE the minimum wage! Rather than heal the wounds resulting from constant attacks on businesses that are driving out many high wage positions and driving up the costs for those that remain in California, the easy way out is to apply a “band aid” on the wound rather than heal the wound. But wait, the unintended consequence associated with the upcoming minimum wage increases will be a great way to incentivize kids to drop out of school. Imagine the carrot of a huge minimum wage of a $25 to 30,000 a year minimum wage as a reward for no higher education. These kids will also be netting more than those on fixed income Social Security. It may be better to stop beating up on businesses with over regulations, over taxation, and uncontrollable “fees” that are slight inconveniences to those making the big bucks, but the California financially challenged will continue to disproportionally pick up the costs “camouflaged” at businesses.
Looks like the velocity of the economy is inversely proportional to the price of oil and gas!
Things will NEVER be “just right” with the economy to the Doomera/teabaggers until one of their own supply siders is anointed.
That may be some time.
CA rated Worst Business the last 3 or 4 years. Result 1M lost mfg jobs and the highest taxation. Most business expansion goes out of state. Interesting NY has been advertising for CA start-ups and no taxation for 10 years. The 1% that pay for all the social free stuff are leaving going to TX, NV or FL. CA State jobs are the highest paying of all states in the country. Add it all up and without SV you hv a disaster. Liberal Sac has no interest in employment only where they can get nthe next tax dollar. My understanding is they are already working on Prop #30–B for 2018.
Actually, JPR11, the top U.S. CEO’s surveyed rank California “the worst state in which to do business” for the TENTH straight year (May, 2014).
http://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-for-business-2014#ranking
You cannot seek legitmate employment without communication skills and a reasonably decent education.
Jobs go begging!
This article fails to mention the 1.5 million new drivers california will be adding to our roadways next year. Wages will remain stagnant if not declining as we welcome criminal trespassers with open arms at the expense of working Americans.
CA was all defense industry and manufacturing in the past. Those jobs are all gone–it is certainly not the fault of any government employee or union member!
California’s real poverty rate (the new census bureau standard adjusted for COL) is easily the worst in the nation at 23.4%. We are 57.3% higher than the average for the other 49 states (up from 48.8% higher last year). Indeed, the CA poverty rate is 17.0% higher than 2nd place Nevada. http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-251.pdf page
In 2012, our supply of California businesses shrunk 5.2%. In ONE year. NOTE: That’s a NET figure – 5.2% fewer businesses in CA in 2012 than were here in 2011. Indeed, in 2012, CA lost businesses at a 67.7% higher rate than the 2nd worst state! http://riderrants.blogspot.com/2013/07/in-2012-ca-lost-businesses-at-677.html
The top U.S. CEO’s surveyed rank California “the worst state in which to do business” for the 10th straight year (May, 2014).
http://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-for-business-2014#ranking
From 2007 through 2010, 10,763 manufacturing facilities were built or expanded across the country — but only 176 of those were in CA. So with roughly 12% of the nation’s population, CA got 1.6% of the built or expanded manufacturing facilities. Stated differently, adjusted for population, the other 49 states averaged 8.4 times more manufacturing growth than did California.
http://www.cmta.net/20110303mfgFacilities07to10.pdf — prepared by California Manufacturers and Technology Association
California is now ranked as the worst state to retire in. Easily the lowest percentage of people over age 65. We “beat” ’em all – NY, NJ, etc.
https://www.fidelity.com/insights/retirement/10-worst-states-to-retire-2014
Just wait folks. The REAL fun has only just begun. If you know anything about unfunded liabilities, hold on to yer hats; take my city, LA: annual budget about $7b, which befits a world class megalopolis. Unfunded liabilities? $27b!!! And that’s as of LAST year… and as if that isn’t bad enough, this will and can only get worse as we are now on the verge of the top tier of the Boomers beginning to retire — one of the largest demos in history, will now begin to heat this unfunded liabilities pressure cooker in ways never seen before. But wait, there’s more! (I feel like those infomercials where they say “But wait, order now and get TWO…”) We’re living longer.
Put it all together and between CALPERS, CALSTRS and the like, and it spells certain doom. Judgement Day is coming folks, and no one seems too concerned.
About a year or so ago analysts were wringing their hands over Italy because it was in the dumpster, and still is. But Italy was disconcerting because of its size: eighth largest economy in the world. But here’s the rub: Cali is ALSO the eighth largest economy – we’re as big as Italy.
Which raises the question: what happens when the most important state in the world’s first true global empire is up to its forehead in debt?
Nothing good can come of this. And the bureaucrooks, left, right, democrap, retardican… are hopelessly lost or just pied pipering us all to the edge.
This is not partisan — it’s reality.