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PPIC Economic Policy Center

The PPIC Economic Policy Center inspires practical policy solutions that promote a robust, resilient economy, improving the prospects of workers, families, and businesses statewide.

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Report · April 2024

California’s Care Workforce

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Report · February 2024

Labor Force Participation in California

Explainer · January 2024

Making Sense of California’s Economy

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Blog Posts

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September 4, 2024

Promoting Labor Force Opportunities for California’s Latina Population

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune

photo - Woman in Wheelchair and with Guide Dog Working at Cafe
August 28, 2024

Addressing Labor Market Barriers for Californians with Disabilities

Shannon McConville, Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune

photo - Mature Woman Working on Spreadsheet in Office
August 22, 2024

Supporting Older Workers in a Changing Labor Market

Julien Lafortune, Sarah Bohn, Hans Johnson

photo - Carpenters Using an Electric Saw To Cut Wood
August 20, 2024

California’s Workforce Is Diverse, but Many Occupations Are Not

Tess Thorman, Jenny Duan, Sarah Bohn

photo - Group of Male Construction Workers on Job Site
August 12, 2024

Little Diversity, Wide Wage Gaps: California’s Ten Largest Occupations

Tess Thorman, Jenny Duan, Sarah Bohn

Fact Sheets

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April 2024

Income Inequality in California

Tess Thorman, Daniel Payares-Montoya

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January 2024

California’s Businesses

Shannon McConville, Jane Sawerengera, Sarah Bohn

photo - Female Ride Share Driver Driving Customer
January 2024

Self-Employment in California

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Jenny Duan, Sarah Bohn

photo - Worker in a Factory
January 2024

Who Are California’s Workers?

Tess Thorman, Jenny Duan, Sarah Bohn

Video

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PPIC Economic Policy Center: Inspiring Practical Solutions that Strengthen California’s Economy

Featured Blog Post · June 4, 2024

Remote Work Is Reshaping the California Labor Market

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Key Areas

Fact Cards

Three-quarters of all California jobs are in firms that have operated for more than a decade.
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California recovered jobs after the pandemic very quickly, at about twice the pace as after the Great Recession.
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23% Share of California businesses owned by women.
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Economy chart The majority of California workers earn less than $30 per hour.
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About 7 in 10 Californians think that when today’s children grow up, they will be worse off financially than their parents.
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The typical California worker is younger than a typical worker in the rest of the US.
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At almost 12% of the workforce, self-employment is higher in California than in the US.
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Most California businesses are small, and most Californians work for a small business.
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Over a third of self-employed Californians are 55 and older.
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Since 1980, income among top earners grew by 63%; among lowest earners, income grew by 7%.
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76% Most poor families in California are working.
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2% of California zip codes hold 20% of the state’s wealth.
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Blacks and Latinos make up 44% of California’s population, but 56% of families at or below the 10th percentile.
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