One of the state’s largest and most active health care unions — SEIU United Healthcare Workers West — submitted an initiative on Monday to boost California’s statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour by the year 2021.
In a news release Sunday, Corinthian said it has had trouble selling its schools because local and federal authorities sought to “impose financial penalties and conditions” on prospective buyers.
What struck me as noteworthy wasn’t the LAO’s California share of monthly growth chart, but rather the analysis’ first California map, which depicts a stark and concerning reality about the state’s job market; it is perilously reliant on one region: the Bay Area/Silicon Valley. This is concerning because it’s a relatively recent reality.
Data released Thursday by the Labor Department shows that the number of families with at least one unemployed member fell to 6.5 million last year from 7.7 million in 2013. But at 8%, the percentage of such families remains above pre-recession levels–6.4% in 2006 and 6.3% in 2007. A breakdown by racial group shows how the effects of the downturn still linger.
The report on state unemployment rates underscores the weakening of a wide set of economic data in recent months. Reports on retail sales, industrial production and home building have all bolstered the case that the economy lost momentum in the first quarter of 2015. The latest report on state employment shows that the weakening occurred across much of the nation.
Last month, when the BLS announced revised data for 2014, several economic analysts pointed out that California, which had been clobbered by the Great Recession, had finally surpassed Texas in the creation of new jobs.
“Sacramento’s economic recovery, slow to emerge, is in full bloom. Unemployment is down, and job growth is catching up to the rest of California. . . Still, thousands of Sacramentans struggle. They can’t find work, or have made do with part-time jobs or work that doesn’t pay as well as their old jobs. For every job opening in electrical engineering, there are 10 times as many jobs available for cashiers. “
“In the wake of the Great Recession, he said, many companies have relied on staffing agencies to manage regulatory changes in healthcare and workers’ compensation. “”As the government starts telling us how we need to operate, you’re going to see more and more survival techniques,”” Thalmayer said. “”And it may be through agencies like ours.”””
California employers added 39,800 jobs in March, and the state’s unemployment rate fell to 6.5% — its lowest level in seven years.
“Some years back, Soitec Solar arrived in San Diego with the promise of good jobs and the ability to deploy industry-leading solar technology at prospective local solar sites. Yet, these local solar projects – centered in the San Diego County community of Boulevard – were tied up with the county for roughly three years, just receiving approval from the Board of Supervisors this February. Untangling the causes for this outcome after the fact is difficult, but one major issue was the desire to avoid or appease the local planning group’s absolutist opposition. The result was an unnecessarily belabored process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). “
Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente will plant a $20 million information technology campus in Midtown Atlanta — a project that will create about 900 jobs.
Recent reports showed a slowdown in U.S. hiring in March, tepid growth in consumer spending at retail stores, a big drop in industrial output and softer-than-expected home building, reinforcing a view the economy downshifted in the first quarter and didn’t have great momentum moving into the second.
Economic activity in the Twelfth District continued to improve moderately during the reporting period of mid-February through the end of March. Overall price inflation was slight, while wage inflation was moderate. Retail sales and demand for business and consumer services increased moderately. Overall manufacturing activity improved modestly on net. The pace of output in the District’s agricultural sector was unchanged. Real estate activity advanced, especially in the commercial real estate sector. Lending activity increased moderately. . . Contacts in the health care industry reported that significant losses by insurers in the wake of health reform generated downward pressure on the price of health care services. Contacts expect significant rate increases for insurance on the health exchange in the fall, as insurance companies attempt to recoup previous losses.
The U.S. economy continued to expand across most of the country in February and March, though a strong dollar, falling oil prices and harsh winter weather slowed activity in some sectors, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest survey of regional economic conditions.
“While the drought is affecting many Californians and communities in different ways, we currently do not expect the drought to have a significant effect on statewide economic activity or state government revenues,” Tuesday’s report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office read. “That being said, we acknowledge the drought as a risk factor for the state’s economy, especially if its effects worsen or are prolonged.”