Unemployment

California's payroll taxes aren’t keeping up with benefit payouts. The unemployment insurance fund will be $22 billion in the hole by year's end, the state says.

If someone can’t find work, the dominant assumption is they failed to evolve, to learn or to stay current. Now that's likely not true.

Strength in the technology sector is masking California's weakness. Outside of government and health care, the state has added no jobs in a year and a half.

Low-income Californians once lost millions of dollars a month to fraudsters who raided their accounts for food assistance and other public benefits. Gov. Gavin Newsom is highlighting security improvements as the Trump administration accuses Democratic states of tolerating welfare fraud.

Technology companies and Hollywood corporations are laying off thousands. The only job growth is in government and healthcare.

California employers and taxpayers are paying off the state's growing debt from a $20 billion federal loan used to cover unemployment claims.

California has long struggled with homelessness, poverty, unemployment, high living costs, a housing shortage, and water and education issues.

The state still hasn't fixed problems with its unemployment and workers compensation funds, both of which faltered during the COVID pandemic and haven't recovered.

Sixty workers with disabilities and challenges may lose their cleaning jobs by month's end because the state wants prisoners to do the work.

California's unemployment rate remains among the nation's highest, while the state struggles to build homes and grow its labor force.