Donate
PPIC Logo Independent, objective, nonpartisan research
Image for

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.

photo - Couple Holding Hands for Support and Help
Report · April 2024

California’s Care Workforce

photo - Workers Operating Machinery in Factory
Report · February 2024

Labor Force Participation in California

photo - Pedestrians in Downtown Los Angeles
Report · January 2024

Priorities for California’s Economy

View more

Blog Posts

View More →
photo - Technician Working on Laptop and Walking by Server Network
March 28, 2024

Why Have US and California Jobs Numbers Diverged?

Sarah Bohn, Jenny Duan, Marisol Cuellar Mejia

photo - Workers in Factory Looking at Machine Control Panel
March 15, 2024

Revised Estimates Show Weaker 2023 Job Trends in California—but There Are Signs of Strength

Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Sarah Bohn

photo - Workers Operating Machinery in Factory
March 7, 2024

Video: Labor Force Participation in California

Chansonette Buck

photo - Mechanical Engineers Making Repairs
February 29, 2024

California’s Economy—Past, Present, and Future

Sarah Bohn

photo - Los Angeles skyline in downtown showing office buildings and traffic
February 22, 2024

Video: California’s Economic Future

Mary Severance

Fact Sheets

View More →
photo - Grocery Shop Owner Assisting a Female Customer
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

Events

View More →

Labor Force Participation in California

February 27, 2024

Videos

photo - EPC launch video cover

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

Featured Blog Post · January 10, 2024

What’s in Store for California’s Economy?

Read More →

Key Areas

Fact Cards

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