blog post Federal Work Requirements Are Changing for Some CalFresh Participants By Tess Thorman, Caroline Danielson Jul 12, 2023 Recent changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—known as CalFresh in California—alter how employment affects eligibility for some participants. We examine what these changes might mean for CalFresh participants as well as for state and local policymakers.
blog post Commentary: Improving Forest Health Can Build Jobs, Economies in Rural California By Henry McCann, Van Butsic Jul 6, 2020 Putting Californians to work improving the health of the state’s headwater forests would boost economic recovery and reduce wildfire risk.
Report Will California Run Out of College Graduates? By Hans Johnson, Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Oct 12, 2015 California’s higher education system is a critical driver of the state’s economic progress. As the state’s economy continues to change, will its workforce be ready for the jobs of tomorrow? This report updates and extends projections of California’s workforce skills through 2030, focusing on the supply and demand for workers with a bachelor’s degree. We find that the state will fall about 1.1 million college graduates short of economic demand if current trends persist—a problem we call the workforce skills gap. Even the arrival of highly educated workers from elsewhere is unlikely to be large enough to fill this gap. Today’s college graduates have better economic outcomes than those who do not hold a bachelor’s degree. Over time, college graduates have seen lower rates of unemployment and higher wages than other workers—even through the Great Recession—suggesting that college degrees have become increasingly valuable in California’s labor market. The future workforce skills gap looms large. But California and its higher education institutions can take several practical steps to close it. The core of a new plan for higher education should include increasing access to the state’s four-year institutions, improving college completion rates, expanding transfer pathways from community colleges, and being smart about aid programs.
Explainer Making Sense of California’s Economy By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Julien Lafortune, Vicki Hsieh Jan 16, 2024 We take a look at where California's economy has been, where it might be headed, and how we can better insulate Californians against future upheavals.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Employment Patterns for CalFresh Adults By Tess Thorman, Caroline Danielson, Stephanie Barton Jul 13, 2022 Most CalFresh participants work, but unemployment and job instability are common. CalFresh assistance may help some stay connected to the workforce; however, work patterns may affect the length and impact of benefits. Policymakers and administrators should ensure that processes for getting and keeping benefits accommodate workers.
blog post The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Test the State’s Budget Reserves By Radhika Mehlotra, Jennifer Paluch Apr 20, 2020 State reserve policies enacted since the Great Recession have boosted the capacity of California’s budget to weather a downturn, but a major recession due to COVID-19 would pose significant fiscal challenges.
Report Higher Education as a Driver of Economic Mobility By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Sarah Bohn Dec 10, 2018 Higher education is key in helping Californians move up the income ladder—but equity gaps are a big challenge. Among young adults born in California, 60% of Asian Americans and 40% of whites have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared to 21% of African Americans and 18% of Latinos.
Report A Hiring Incentive that Works: The California Competes Tax Credit By David Neumark, Matthew Freedman, Benjamin Hyman, Shantanu Khanna Dec 13, 2023 Established in 2013, the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC) boosts firm employment and payroll growth within California by as much as 30 percent within three years. This growth benefits a wide range of workers and is greater in parts of the state with higher levels of poverty and unemployment.
