Fact Sheet Income Inequality in California By Tess Thorman, Daniel Payares-Montoya Apr 17, 2024 California’s income gap narrowed in 2022, but the disparity between high and low incomes is wider in California than in most other states. Over the longer term, income inequality has been driven by earnings growth among college-educated workers.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Education By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lauren Mora, Deja Thomas Apr 10, 2024 As the California Legislature considers placing a school facilities bond on the November 2024 ballot, around half of likely voters say they would vote yes on such a measure. About eight in ten public school parents see catching up academically or addressing the pandemic’s social-emotional impact as the biggest K–12 challenge.
blog post An Early Look at the November Election By Mark Baldassare Apr 10, 2024 With California's November ballot taking shape, we examine how the state's voters are feeling about races for president, the US Senate, and the House of Representatives.
Report California’s Care Workforce By Shannon McConville, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Sarah Bohn Apr 3, 2024 State master plans on the aging population and early learning and care have prioritized workforce expansion and career pathways for care workers who provide key services to young children, older residents, and people with disabilities. A new report outlines current realities and highlights challenges and opportunities in growing this critical workforce.
Fact Sheet California’s Digital Divide By Joseph Hayes, Eric Assan, Niu Gao Apr 1, 2024 Digital access is at an all-time high in California—and major investments by state and federal governments have helped narrow the digital divide. But racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities persist.
blog post Testimony: Most Californians Are “Pretty Happy” but a Growing Share Are “Not Too Happy” By Mark Baldassare Mar 12, 2024 Mark Baldassare, PPIC Statewide Survey director and Miller Chair in Public Policy, testified at a hearing of the Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes. He discussed Californians' overall happiness as well as their level of satisfaction with work, household finances, and other aspects of life.
blog post Video: Labor Force Participation in California By Chansonette Buck Mar 7, 2024 California faces a shrinking labor force, largely due to an aging population. PPIC researchers Julien Lafortune, Hans Johnson, and Marisol Cuellar Mejia discuss their new report on the implications of—and potential solutions to—this economic challenge.
Report Do Registration Reforms Add New Voters or Keep Californians Registered? By Eric McGhee, Jennifer Paluch, Mindy Romero Mar 6, 2024 In recent years, new voter registration and voter address updates have surged—due largely to California’s new process for automatic voter registration. But registration reforms have not significantly diversified the electorate, and the state may need to do more to engage newly registered voters.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: Do Registration Reforms Add New Voters or Keep Californians Registered? By Eric McGhee, Jennifer Paluch, Mindy Romero, Stephanie Barton Mar 6, 2024 Automatic voter registration and streamlined address updates have brought new voters onto the rolls while helping those who move within the state stay registered—but these reforms have not improved representation. To bring more young and diverse Californians into the electorate, the state must broaden its efforts to register new voters.
blog post Student Homelessness Rises to Pre-Pandemic Levels By Brett Guinan, Julien Lafortune Feb 26, 2024 Nearly a quarter million K–12 students in California experienced homelessness at some point during the 2022–23 school year. After three years of declines, the state's homeless student population has returned to pre-COVID levels.
