The State of California

Interactive Graphic of Recent California Employment Trends US Job Market Shows Stark Divide: Private Sector Struggles While Public Sector Expands The US job market, particularly in California, is showing pronounced contrasts between private and public sector employment as we move through 2025, with significant policy changes at both federal and state levels affecting hiring trends. Recent Employment Data Reveals Concerning Trends Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 151,000 in February 2025, similar to the average monthly gain of 168,000 over the prior 12 months, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics report . The national unemployment rate remained relatively steady at 4.1 percent. Health care, financial activities, transportation and warehousing, and social assistance showed job growth, while federal government employment declined. California's economic struggles appear to be intensifying, with the state's unemployment rate rising to 5.4% in February 2025,...

  CALIFORNIA'S SHIFTING POWER CENTERS: THE COASTAL-INLAND DIVIDE By Political Correspondent March 31, 2025 In America's most populous state, the distribution of political and economic power is undergoing a subtle but significant transformation that could reshape California's future trajectory—even as traditional coastal powerhouses maintain their grip on the state's levers of influence. COASTAL DOMINANCE PERSISTS The centers of California's power have long been concentrated along its coast. Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area continue to dominate the economic landscape with unparalleled wealth concentration and technological innovation. The region's $186,600 median household income—more than double the national average—translates directly into political influence. "Tech money has fundamentally altered the balance of power in Sacramento," says Maria Gonzales, professor of political science at UC Berkeley. "The Bay Area's economi...

San Diego County Library Expands Digital Reading Options with The Palace Project By San Diego Local News April 1, 2025 San Diego County residents now have access to thousands of additional e-books and audiobooks through The Palace Project, a digital platform that has been adopted by the San Diego County Library system as part of a statewide initiative to expand digital reading access. The Palace Project app serves as a supplementary resource to the library's primary Libby app, offering an expanded collection that includes fiction and nonfiction for all ages, self-published authors, classics, and more. This implementation is part of California's ambitious "eBooks for All" program, which aims to democratize access to digital reading materials across the state. "If you can't find what you're looking for in Libby, download The Palace Project app to access even more free eBooks and eAudiobooks," reads the San Diego County Library's promotional me...