UPDATED: How to Kill a State in 5 Easy Steps – Gavin Newsom’s California
‘California’s out-migration has come to resemble the pattern long associated with Rust Belt states’
By Katy Grimes, August 13, 2025 7:36 am
California is one of only five states that haven’t recovered to pre-COVID job levels, and even our partial recovery is entirely dependent on government jobs.
The California Center for Jobs & the Economy recently reported: “California’s job growth has been dominated by government and government dependent jobs in Healthcare & Social Assistance.” …and “other than in Trade, California has not grown jobs during the past 4 years of recovery; it has bought them with public funds. California has not expanded its tax base; it has used that tax base to cover its competitive weakness for private sector jobs.”
It’s clearly time for another article showing how California Governor Gavin Newsom is killing California.
Today California ranks toward the bottom in attracting all newcomers from other parts of the country, demographer Joel Kotkin recently reported. “Rather, many affluent young professionals are migrating out of the state. In 2022, California lost more than 200,000 net migrants 25 or older, the bulk of whom had either four-year or associate degrees, while that cohort’s numbers surged in Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Florida and the Carolinas.”
The numbers don’t lie.
Our last article on this topic exposed Newsom’s economy:
California’s job openings declined 30% in 2024, as unemployment spiked. And, Governor Gavin Newsom gave fast food workers a minimum wage increase to $20 per hour. Even as private sector businesses and residents have been fleeing California’s high taxes and high cost of living, Newsom hired more state employees, expanding the size of state government.
Since September 2022 – while Newsom had the state on full lockdown – California lost a net 154,000 jobs in the private sector and gained 361,000 jobs in the public sector, according to California’s non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, last year.
The year-over-year unemployment rate in September 2024 increased to 5.3% from 5% — more than a percentage point above the national rate of 4.1% and the second worst in the US, the data showed. Only Nevada had a higher jobless rate at 5.6%.
Ouch.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office published “Annual Revision to Monthly Jobs Survey Shows Far Fewer Job Gains in 2024,” which showed no growth at end of 2024.
As the LAO explains, businesses in the state are surveyed about their current payroll. These surveys are used to estimate how the total number of jobs in each state changes from month to month. Each March, federal officials correct (or “revise”) the monthly survey estimates to match actual payroll records collected from businesses each year. In most years, the annual correction is small and does not does materially affect our interpretation of the state’s labor markets. One important exception is that revisions tend to be more meaningful during economic downturns, with monthly survey estimates often overstating the number of jobs.
“Recent Rebenching Shows State Added Far Fewer Jobs Than Originally Thought,” the LAO reported.
Here are the latest June 2025 California unemployment numbers:
- California’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.4 percent in June, increasing by 0.1 percentage point from May, and increasing by 0.1 percentage point from one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in June, down 0.1 percentage point from May, and unchanged from June 2024.
- Civilian employment increased by 22,000 in June to 18,771,000 persons. This followed an increase of 49,000 persons in May. On a year-over basis, civilian employment increased by 153,100 (0.8 percentage point).
- Unemployment increased by 12,000 in June to 1,070,000 persons, following an increase of 3,000 persons in May. The number of unemployed was up 28,700 persons (2.8 percent) from June 2024. Over the year, the California civilian labor force was up 181,800 persons (0.9 percent) from June 2024.
- Private sector employment in California, which excludes government, lost 9,200 jobs (-0.1 percentage point) in June following an increase of 9,300 jobs (0.1 percentage point) in May. Over the last year, employment in California’s private sector has increased by 48,000 jobs (0.3 percentage point).
The county unemployment rates are telling – notice which counties have the highest unemployment rates – the interior, and these numbers are non-farm jobs:
Interestingly, The sectors that gained jobs in June were: Private Educational and Health Services (9,900); Leisure and Hospitality (4,300); Construction (3,800) and Government (3,100). The sectors that lost jobs were: Professional and Business Services (-9,900); Manufacturing (-6,400); Information (-6,100); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-4,600); Other Services (-100) and Financial Activities (-100). Mining and Logging remained unchanged.
Specifically, Government payrolls increased by 3,100 jobs in June. This followed a 2,400 job-gain in May. Over the year, government sector employment was up by 53,100 jobs (2.0 percent).
This is incredibly important as more than 4 million people left California for other states since the start of the century. As Kotkin reported in April, “California’s Long-Term Population Slide Threatens Its Economy. The state is losing its youthful energy.”
He reported that the U.S. Census Bureau recently revealed a small increase in California’s population, but most of the small bump appears to be the result of the historic illegal immigration surge courtesy of the four years of Biden Administration’s open borders.
“The current newcomers appear to come from poorer countries, many are undocumented, and in the short term at least, that could put stress on local economies and on the salaries of low-income workers who compete with them for living space, jobs and social services.”
He says last year’s count still leaves the state’s numbers below where they stood in 2020, and its growth rate is below the national average and well below that of key competitor states.
“Comparing census numbers from 2010 to 2024, California’s population has increased by less than 6 percent; in Texas, Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia and Utah, the increases range from 15 percent to nearly 30 percent.”
Kotkin says “The numbers tell the story. From 2020 to 2024, the state added 934,000 international migrants, compared to a net domestic migration loss of 1.46 million residents. California’s out-migration has come to resemble the pattern long associated with Rust Belt states.”
As the EDD reports, “Over the month, the unemployment rate increased in 55 counties in June. Over the year, the unemployment rate increased in 56 out of 58 counties.”
As the LAO reported las year, California’s public-sector job gains have offset broad weakness in the private-sector labor market – California government grows while the private sector suffers.
“Nationally, Private-Sector Employment Continues to Grow.”
This should never happen in an economically healthy state. The numbers don’t lie but Governor Newsom does. His “More Jobs, Faster Recovery” claims ring hollow.
A California native and Navy mom, Katy lives in Sacramento, CA.
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Hey Katy, did you know this information does not look good on a presidential resume?
Please don’t stop telling the truth about his leadership.
Your journalism will have an effect on the all important midterms and ’28.
Thank you.
Governor Newsom expresses and enacts every policy that defies what made California a glorious state for agriculture, energy, technology, entertainment, and recreation. supporting prosperity well beyond its borders.
The San Francisco/Los Angeles capital cabal is exposed for their incompetent, elitist, marxist, racist and narcissistic approach to governance against we the people, sovereign taxpaying citizens.
Newsom has single-handedly and seemingly purposefully taken an axe to the Once-Golden State of California and has never stopped hacking away at it. Apparently he isn’t ready to stop until EVERYTHING is trashed. The country needs to know just how thoroughly destructive and disastrous his “reign” has been for Californians.
Gavin didn’t exactly destroy the state single-handedly. He was groomed and coached by a cadre of corrupt Democrats. Their reign of error and malfeasance is exemplified by the high-speed rail fiasco while tent festooned city streets inhabit the dregs of society high on speed and off the rails with fentanyl and crank.
“The issue today is the same as it has been throughout all history, whether man shall be allowed to govern himself or be ruled by a small elite.” ~Thomas Jefferson
Let’s grow the CA economy and increase jobs by building giant pyramids.
Of course, today’s Dem controlled CA government is incapable of building pyramids, but we can spend billions of dollars on the project and hire people with some of the money that is not diverted into Dem Party coffers and Dem Party crony pockets.
great
People naturally flee communism if they can. In the U.S., that’s easy. Just move out of Commiefornia to another state. We’ve had a dictator that for three years told people they couldn’t leave their house, while the dictator was out wining and dining. We’ve had a dictator who forced kids to stay home, ruining their education, while the dictator’s kids went to school. We’ve had a dictator who forced businesses and churches to close, while his own winery business stayed open. We’ve had a dictator who told doctors that if they told patients about alternative Covid-19 treatments or the dangers of the experimental vaccines, they would lose their medical license. We’ve had a dictator who has emptied the jails with the sole purpose to have criminals prey on middle class people trying to make a living in this state, while he hides away in his $9 million mansion which was purchased for him by secret “investors”.
We have a Communist ruling party that feeds the dictator an endless stream of bills with the intent on ruining California living conditions and jobs for middle and working class people.
People are done with the fake democracy in this state.
Well said, Protect Freedom.
Thank you for posting it.
AMEN!!
Too bad you’re biased. I am grateful for my government job AND excellent benefits. I, like many, grew tired of my private sector, private equity backed job where my hard work just made the investors richer. Now I do great work helping others without the constant pressure to “bring in more business” or they fire you. All my former colleagues left too, many of them starting their own businesses.
You don’t seem to realize that hard working taxpayers producing something of value who work in private industry and in small businesses are being forced to support government workers like you who produce nothing of value while earning extravagant wages and benefits. State employment is the number one industry in Sacramento and those of us who live here see that many state employees have this obnoxious sense of entitlement that taxpayers owe them a living. Most state workers probably would starve if taxpayers weren’t supporting them.
YES, Samantha.
Actually my misplaced error comment below, originally intended for Protect Freedom, is also the right response to YOUR post.
Amen, Samantha!! Government is so bloated that many of the “employees” sit and play games or look at porn on their state-issued computers, having nothing else to do. I was given that info by a state employee who was one of the few who actually work. Government could cut the number of employees by twice the number that increased, and still be bloated.
@Sylvia, And what happens when we are out of taxpayers to support your government job?
The state already has more debt that can be payed off. This government needs to be 1/4 the size.
If not treated then private sector weariness can have serious long term effects. /s
EXACTLY.
Thank you.
It’s all right there in the big black and blue recipe book, held up high in the Guber’s left flipper. A final push to marginalize every patriotic American citizen residing in California, once and for all.
Taxes are an implement of and to affect bondage, burden and contrition: The feds print indiscriminately all the fiat currency they require. Our corrupt government is controlled by a very private bank that applies the constraints necessary to fulfill America’s role of citizenry wealth subjugation.
Predicated of federal debit reconciliation, we have and own nothing; we’re on the hook to the world.
Whatcha gonna do when they come for your assets?
So he hopes, anyway. Today, Thurs 8/14, it seems to me Gov Gruesome has been further reduced to issuing empty threats and warnings like an ineffective grade school substitute teacher that the misbehaving kids are obviously NOT taking one bit seriously. “Stand down or else I’m gonna redraw the maps, you mean Trump you!” he thinly screeches, knowing he can’t actually do a darn thing and is going to come out of the other side of this redistricting B.S. a loser. Guess we’ll see.
And you think Red states are more favorable long term? Without Blue States that end up subsidizing Red States. California received $83 Billion dollars less (what residents pay in federal taxes & the state receives back) while Texas received $73 Billion more. Florida has a serious Condo & Home market situation. To get anything passed to help with working class people requires State Amendments. Newsom also signed into law changes to a existing environmental law to help with construction of more residential homes (a law originally signed into law by Regean). California is also a very big state with different geographical areas. You cannot have everything perfect in a state.
But I can spell
@Jason, None of it matters, because people don’t want to live under a dictatorship.
Last I checked, Florida and Texas pay in more to the Feds than they take in.
Let talk in detail about that “wonderful” bill removing environmental protections from housing projects. I thought Commucrats were environmentalists. I guess not. Only when it fits their agenda.
Here’s how corrupt those bills were. P.S. No one wants to live in your urban cesspools.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills, Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 131, which significantly roll back the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to accelerate housing and infrastructure development.
These laws exempt most urban housing projects from environmental review and waive environmental restrictions for facilities like health clinics, child care centers, and food banks.
The move, hailed by Newsom as “the most consequential housing reform in modern history,” aims to break down a major barrier to building new homes by addressing the abuse of CEQA, which critics say has been used to delay or block housing projects.
However, there is a significant catch: the legislation was passed as a condition for signing the state’s $321 billion budget, a tactic that critics call “poison pill” politics and a backdoor method of bypassing normal legislative scrutiny.
This approach led to fierce opposition from environmental groups, who argue the changes represent a sweeping rollback of essential environmental and community protections.
They are particularly concerned about exemptions for advanced manufacturing facilities, including semiconductor plants, which could be permitted in vulnerable communities without any environmental review, potentially leading to groundwater contamination and other public health risks.
Opponents also criticized the lack of public input, the rushed timeline for the legislation, and provisions that could allow government agencies to withhold internal communications from public records requests, potentially obscuring project risks.
While supporters, including housing advocates and some lawmakers, believe the reforms are crucial to addressing California’s severe housing shortage and homelessness crisis by speeding up construction and reducing costs
, the legislation has ignited a deep divide. Environmentalists warn that the broad exemptions, especially for industrial development and projects in sensitive areas, could “poison our air, water, and land across the state” and disproportionately harm low-income communities and endangered species.
The controversy has prompted calls for “clean-up legislation” to address these concerns in the coming weeks.
Worst governor in the history of California. He destroyed San Francisco as mayor, he has bankrupted California and now he wants to run America as president. Gavin is a lunatic progressive who wants high taxes, failed public schools, homeless wandering everywhere and rampant crime.
Newsom driving the masses to homelessness while Trump extols interment camps during the Olympics.
If Trump was the real deal and MAGA the intent the Olympics world be sent to Moscow or Beijing. LAX in the hole $1Billion PLUS already.
Newsom needs to be hauled before a tribunal and be held accountable for his many crimes against humanity and for the destruction he’s caused to California. He and his wretched soul (if he still has one) have a lot to account for.
Gavin Newscum is a vile, slimy, lying, cheating, crooked pile of adamschitt snake-oil salesman. Never believe a word that comes out of that dirt-bags mouth.
The Guber appears to be suffering an integumentary condition consistent with injury caused by an abusively tight restraint.
Is there something going on that we should be updated on, regarding his current mental state?
He’s fresh from a series of Botox injections and an extreme teeth-whitening treatment?
But his hair is really graying fast from all the stress he’s causing everyone, including himself, apparently…
All of his lies, BS and backroom deals apoeaecti be catching up with him…
Great article!
Here’s more ammo:
CA VS. THE OTHER STATES
UPDATED: March, 2025
Compared to other states, California has:
* The highest individual income tax rates.
* The highest statewide sales tax.
* The highest capital gains tax.
* The highest unemployment rate.
* The 2nd highest electricity rates.
* The 2nd highest water rates.
* The 2nd highest cost of owning a home — 59% higher than the national average.
* The highest COL. 45% higher than the national average (INCLUDING CA).
* The highest poverty rate, after adjusting for COL.
* The highest gas taxes — and gas prices. It will rise annually every July. Yet only 3 states’ highways are
ranked worse than CA.
* The 8th highest median homeowner property tax bill. It’s 21.6% higher than TX.
* By FAR the highest fees for building a home or apartment.
* The 2nd lowest % of home ownership.
* The highest % of homelessness.
* The highest adult illiteracy rate.
* The 2nd highest per prisoner incarceration cost.
* The highest traffic ticket costs (over triple the national average).
* K-12 CA teachers last year received the highest average salary — $95,000+. Yet CA students score 39th out of the 48 states that test their pupils.
* CA fees for building a tract home are $40K to $150K. The national average is under $10K
And finally, CA has the highest % of residents fleeing to other states.
Perhaps there’s a connection . . . .