blog post How Is Remote Work Affecting Worker Preferences and the Economy? By Dean Bonner, Sarah Bohn Dec 13, 2022 More than one-third of employed Californians say they work from home either all the time or sometimes. But the ability to work remotely varies across industries, occupations, and regions, with significant implications for job-seeking patterns and economic opportunity.
blog post California’s 2022 Fire Season: “A Remarkably Different Year” By Sarah Bardeen Dec 12, 2022 This year’s fire season was relatively quiet—a welcome change of pace for fire-weary Californians. But what does it mean in the larger scheme of things? We asked UC Berkeley professor Scott Stephens for insights.
Report English as a Second Language at California’s Community Colleges By Olga Rodriguez, Laura Hill, Daniel Payares-Montoya Nov 28, 2022 Colleges began implementing reforms aimed at improving English as a Second Language pathways in fall 2021—during a historic pandemic. We cannot yet disentangle the impact of reforms from the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, but an analysis of early implementation finds that colleges have made significant progress.
blog post A Tight Labor Market: Challenges for Business, Opportunities for Workers? By Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Vicki Hsieh, Julien Lafortune Nov 21, 2022 Last week’s jobs report indicated strong job growth and continued low unemployment in California. Under the right conditions, this could spell greater economic returns to both workers and businesses.
Report COVID-19 Emergency Funding and California’s Higher Education Systems By Jacob Jackson, Kevin Cook, Darriya Starr Nov 16, 2022 Federal dollars offered timely, substantial support to the state’s higher education systems during the worst of the pandemic. Funding for students, online instruction, and social distancing measures made up key spending allocations.
event Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being Nov 10, 2022 PPIC’s latest survey examines Californians’ views on their finances, inflation, and income inequality. It also looks at job satisfaction and opinions on policies related to housing affordability, college costs, and job training. PPIC associate survey director Dean Bonner will present key findings and discuss takeaways with survey analyst Rachel Lawler.
blog post Video: Solar Development in the San Joaquin Valley By Sarah Bardeen Nov 9, 2022 Last week, we gathered a panel of experts to debate the potential benefits and challenges of solar development in the San Joaquin Valley. Watch the event video to learn more about our new research—and to see a lively discussion about how solar might deliver lasting benefits to the region and the state.
Statewide Survey PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Rachel Lawler, Deja Thomas Nov 9, 2022 Amid rising prices and economic uncertainty, more than two in three Californians are pessimistic about how the state’s economy will do over the next year. An overwhelming majority of employed Californians are at least somewhat satisfied with their jobs, but satisfaction declines among lower-income residents.
blog post Commentary: How California Can Expand Solar Development and Support San Joaquin Valley Farmers By Andrew Ayres, Darcy Wheeles Nov 7, 2022 Can the San Joaquin Valley address its groundwater deficit while helping the state achieve its long-term clean energy goals—and invest in struggling communities at the same time? Our most recent CalMatters commentary argues that solar development, done right, could offer multiple benefits to a valley in transition.
blog post How a New Way of Counting Prisoners Has Changed Redistricting By Jennifer Paluch, Eric McGhee, Heather Harris Nov 2, 2022 For the purposes of drawing state legislative and congressional districts, California now counts state prisoners as residents of their last known address, rather than as residents of prisons. Though the effects are small, communities with large numbers of residents who have been sent to prison now do not lose representation to the few communities in which the prisons are located.
