California Jobs First

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.

California's Tax Problem

California's Lawsuit Problem

  • 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.