Just how many Californians need a job? The answer may be larger than you think.
Judging by the official unemployment rate of 12.2%, California has more unemployed workers than the entire population of New Mexico. To provide a job for every unemployed worker, California’s economy would have to generate nearly 2.3 million new jobs.
But a growing number of “underemployed” workers in California’s labor force aren’t included in the conventional unemployment statistic. These workers, who want full-times jobs but have settled for part-time work, now number more than 1.4 million.
Add 2.3 million and 1.4 million and you get 3.7 million. That number, which exceeds the entire population of Oklahoma, represents a startling 20% of California’s labor force. Simply put, one in five California workers wants full-time work, but can’t find it.
In addition, 232,000 more Californians also want a job, but aren’t included in the official labor force. That number is roughly equal to entire population of the city of Madison, Wisconsin. Many of these “discouraged” workers have given up searching for work and are waiting for better times before rejoining the hunt.
All total, California would need to create nearly 4 million jobs to accommodate everyone who doesn’t have a full-time job, but wants one. That’s a number larger than the entire population of the city of Los Angeles. It’s also greater than the entire population of Oregon, as well as that of twenty-two other states!
Of course, even in the best of times, a certain number of people are unemployed during job transitions. And, we should never provide jobs to illegal aliens who might be included in these numbers.
Even so, these numbers send a loud and clear message to state leaders that private sector job creation must be a priority. For millions, the American dream depends on it.
Senator Bob Dutton (Rancho Cucamonga) serves as the Republican point person on jobs and budget issues. Mr. Dutton has more than thirty years of experience in the private sector and is the founder and owner of a successful Inland Empire business. For more information, please see www.sen.ca.gov/Dutton.