Hans Johnson
Senior Fellow
Expertise: Higher education, California’s population, housing, workforce
Hans Johnson is a senior fellow at the PPIC Higher Education Center and a member of the PPIC Economic Policy Center. His research focuses on improving college access and completion. He frequently presents his work to policymakers and higher education officials, and he serves as a technical advisor to many organizations seeking to improve college graduation rates, address workforce needs, and engage in long-term capacity planning. His other areas of expertise include international and domestic migration, housing in California, and population projections. Previously, he served as research director at PPIC. Before joining PPIC, he worked as a demographer at the California Research Bureau and at the California Department of Finance. He holds a PhD in demography and a master’s degree in biostatistics from the University of California, Berkeley.
Fact Sheet · March 2024
Rural California
Blog Post · February 27, 2024
California’s Renters
Report · February 2024
Labor Force Participation in California
March 2024
Rural California
February 2024
Labor Force Participation in California
February 2024
Policy Brief: Labor Force Participation in California
January 2024
Priorities for California’s Economy
January 2024
Immigrants in California
January 2024
California’s Population
October 2023
Race and Diversity in the Golden State
August 2023
Strengthening California’s Transfer Pathway
March 2023
Is College Worth It?
October 2022
The Effects of COVID-19 on Transfer-Intending Students in California’s Community Colleges
October 2022
Policy Brief: The Effects of COVID-19 on Transfer-Intending Students in California’s Community Colleges
March 2021
Immigrants and Education in California
January 2021
California’s Future
January 2021
California’s Future: Education
November 2020
Higher Education and Economic Opportunity in California
January 2020
California’s Future: Housing
January 2020
California’s Future: Population
November 2019
New Eligibility Rules for the University of California? The Effects of New Science Requirements
October 2019
What Happens When Colleges Broaden Access to Transfer-Level Courses? Evidence from California’s Community Colleges
October 2019
Higher Education in California
December 2018
Higher Education as a Driver of Economic Mobility
November 2017
Improving College Pathways in California
November 2016
Determining College Readiness in California’s Community Colleges: A Survey of Assessment and Placement Policies
October 2015
Will California Run Out of College Graduates?
November 2014
Higher Education in California: Institutional Costs
November 2014
Higher Education in California: Performance Budgeting
October 2014
Making College Possible for Low-Income Students: Grant and Scholarship Aid in California
March 2012
California’s Housing Market
July 2011
Illegal Immigration
September 2008
California’s Future Economy
September 2008
California’s Future Population
September 2008
Housing in California
November 2007
Birth Rates in California
June 2005
California 2025: Taking on the Future
August 2004
California’s Multiracial Population
December 2003
California’s Demographic Future
August 2003
California’s Newest Neighborhoods
March 2001
The Demography of California Immigrants
September 1996
Undocumented Immigration to California: 1980-1993
February 27, 2024
California’s Renters
February 13, 2024
Where Are Californians Going When They Leave the Golden State?
February 7, 2024
Who’s Leaving California—and Who’s Moving In?
December 7, 2023
Many California Renters Remain Financially Stressed
August 9, 2023
Large Cities Lose Population even as They Add New Housing
January 30, 2023
California’s Highly Educated Immigrants
January 27, 2023
COVID-19’s Sobering Effect on Life Expectancy
January 26, 2023
California’s Plunging Birth Rates
November 29, 2022
Improving Regional Representation among Community College Transfers
November 17, 2022
Shrinking Household Size Strains California’s Housing Market
October 17, 2022
The Politics of Leaving California
June 28, 2022
California’s LGBT Population
June 14, 2022
Homeownership Trends in California
May 13, 2022
California’s Housing Divide
April 22, 2022
Many California Renters Fear Eviction Despite Increased Aid
March 15, 2022
The Pandemic’s Effects on Higher Education
March 10, 2022
Ukrainian Immigrants in California
March 4, 2022
Geography of Community College Transfers in California
March 2, 2022
A Snapshot of Homeless Californians in Shelters
January 13, 2022
What’s Next for Higher Education?
January 5, 2022
College Admissions in an Era of Uncertainty
October 21, 2021
College and Major Can Matter A Lot for Starting Wages
September 30, 2021
How Are Renters Faring as California’s Eviction Ban Ends?
September 15, 2021
Geography of College Enrollment in California
June 29, 2021
Geography of College Readiness in California
June 17, 2021
California’s Housing Construction Picks Up Pace
June 4, 2021
California’s New Baby Bust
May 18, 2021
California Remains on Track to Close the Degree Gap
April 26, 2021
California’s Stalled Population Growth
April 9, 2021
Home Prices Keep Racing up in California
April 6, 2021
Geography of Educational Attainment in California
February 19, 2021
Dual Admission Could Help More Students Transfer from Community College to State Universities
February 4, 2021
Helping Community Colleges Build on Progress during the Pandemic
January 13, 2021
The Year Ahead in Higher Education
November 18, 2020
Testimony: Increasing Community College Transfers
July 29, 2020
College Plans during COVID-19
May 7, 2020
Who Lives in California’s Nursing Homes?
April 17, 2020
California’s Most Isolated Seniors
April 10, 2020
Displaced by COVID-19: Moving Out of College Housing
March 30, 2020
COVID-19 Shutdown Forces Colleges to Ramp up Online Learning
March 18, 2020
Communicating to California’s Seniors about Coronavirus
March 10, 2020
California’s Population Slowdown
February 25, 2020
Testimony: California Is on Track to Close the Degree Gap
January 9, 2020
Demand for UC and CSU Enrollment Remains Strong
November 12, 2019
College Applications Are Up and Admission Rates Are Down
August 29, 2019
Integrating California’s Education Data
August 9, 2019
New Federal Data Sheds Light on Student Debt in California
July 10, 2019
California’s Brain Gain Continues
May 31, 2019
Reforming California’s Community College System
May 23, 2019
Expanding Enrollment at UC and CSU
May 17, 2019
Coping with High Housing Costs in College
April 17, 2019
Leveling the Playing Field in College Admissions
March 29, 2019
Helping Community College Students Succeed
February 27, 2019
Serving California’s Diverse College Students
February 5, 2019
More Students Than Ever Ready for UC and CSU
January 24, 2019
Many of California’s Highly Educated Workers Are Retiring
November 29, 2018
‘Tis the Season for College Applications
November 15, 2018
Gender Differences in Higher Education Start Early
August 31, 2018
Is the Decline in the Humanities Overstated?
July 31, 2018
More Students Are Earning STEM Degrees
June 21, 2018
Gender Imbalances in STEM Majors
June 18, 2018
How Changes in Immigration Affect California’s Workforce
February 21, 2018
Occupational Shifts Favor California’s High-Skill Workers
February 6, 2018
Testimony: How Can California Produce More College Graduates?
January 3, 2018
California’s Brain Gain
November 16, 2017
College Graduates and California’s Future
October 17, 2017
Housing Costs and Higher Education
October 10, 2017
Testimony: Cybersecurity Needs and Higher Education
September 7, 2017
DACA and California’s Future
July 12, 2017
College Graduates Have Higher Net Worth
June 20, 2017
California is Still Golden for College Graduates
May 24, 2017
Educational Progress Stalls in California
May 5, 2017
Students Choose College with Future Jobs in Mind
April 27, 2017
Highly Educated Workers See Strong Job Gains
February 3, 2017
Immigrants Are Key to the State’s High-Skilled Workforce
January 12, 2017
The News on Student Debt Is Not All Bad
October 4, 2016
The Growing Gender Divide in Higher Education
July 7, 2016
A Generational Challenge for Higher Education
June 28, 2016
The Rise and Fall of Enrollment at For-Profit Colleges
May 18, 2016
Testimony: Closing California’s Workforce Skills Gap
April 12, 2016
Commentary: State Universities Are in a Budgetary Bind
April 12, 2016
Introducing the PPIC Higher Education Center
March 3, 2016
Testimony: Closing California’s Degree Gap
November 2, 2015
Interpreting California’s Latest SAT Scores
June 29, 2015
Online Learning and College Costs
April 22, 2015
Testimony: Improving the Cal Grant Program
April 13, 2015
Locking Students Out of Our Colleges a Losing Strategy
March 20, 2015
Delivering on the Promise of Online Education
January 20, 2015
Dividing California’s Higher Education Pie
August 19, 2014
The Decline of the Homeowner
August 5, 2014
Bay Area Tops in Population Growth Rates
June 23, 2014
Fulfilling the Promise of Online Education
May 23, 2014
Online Courses and Achievement Gaps
April 29, 2014
Is College the Answer to Income Inequality?
March 6, 2014
Ready for College?
February 28, 2014
Testimony: Community Colleges’ New Scorecard
February 20, 2014
The Flip Side of High Housing Prices
January 23, 2014
Most New Immigrants Are From Asia
Higher Education in California
California’s Changing Population: Implications for the Future
California Housing Market Recovering, But Key Challenges Ahead
Student Debt and the Value of College Degree
California’s Workforce: Planning for a Better Future
Housing in California: Planning for a Better Future
California Housing: Lingering Crisis But Reasons for Hope
Illegal Immigration in California
California’s Changing Population
California’s Growing and Changing Population
Higher Education: Updating California’s Master Plan