03/28/2024

Is California’s expensive housing scaring away job seekers?

Plenty of workers still move West each year for a new job in California. But the state’s high cost of housing may be deterring many other job seekers from moving into the state.

Business leaders up and down the state say California’s expensive housing makes it challenging to recruit new workers — and to keep existing employees here.

“You’re competing, now, with a low unemployment rate in California, and people have options,” said Mary Leslie, president of the Los Angeles Business Council. In April, the state’s unemployment rate hit a record low of 4.2 percent.

“If we don’t have the affordable housing, we’re not as competitive,” Leslie said.

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