California's Jobs Problem

Facts and Figures

California's unemployment rate is 9 percent (1.7 million Californians unemployed) as of April 2013, which is considerably higher than the national rate of 7.6%. The state's unemployment rate is tied for the fourth-worst in the nation.
For the ninth year in a row, CEO's rated California as the worst state to do business in Chief Executive magazine.
According to CNBC's "America's Top States for Business 2012," California ranked 48th among the 50 states for the cost of doing business and 43rd for business friendliness.
According to the non-partisan Tax Foundation, California's combination of business, sales, income, and other taxes ranks it 48th out of 50 states for being business-friendly.
According to Forbes magazine in 2011, California ranked 41st among the 50 states for the cost of doing business and 39th overall among the best states to do business.
California has 14 of the nation's 20 most economically stressed counties (unemployment, foreclosure, and bankruptcy), by far the most of any state according to the Associated Press. Click here to view a county-by-county comparison.
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council rated California as having one of the least friendly policy environments for entrepreneurship in November 2011 (46th out of 50 states).
According to the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, California has lost 33% of its industrial base (624,000 jobs) from January 2001 to December 2011.

According to the non-profit Council on State Taxation, California ranks first in tax unfairness, which hurts job growth and revenues for vital public services.
According to the Tax Foundation, Californians have to work harder than the residents of 44 other states to pay their total tax bill each year (federal, state, and local).
California has the third-worst business tax climate in the nation.
California has the highest corporate income tax rate in the West at 8.84%.
California has the highest sales tax in the nation at 7.5%.
California has the second-highest gas tax in the nation at 48.7 cents per gallon.
California's top individual income tax rate is the second highest in the nation.
California's business owners pay the highest income tax rate in the nation.
California has the fourth-highest state and local tax burden as a percentage of state income.
According to the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council in April 2011, California has one of the worst tax systems (45th of 51) for entrepreneurship and small businesses.

California has the nation's fourth-worst lawsuit climate (47th of 50), making it a less attractive place for job-creating investment according to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce annual study.