Explainer Is College Worth It? By Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Cesar Alesi Perez, Vicki Hsieh, Hans Johnson Mar 8, 2023 Rising college costs and a reluctance to take on debt lead many students and families to wonder if college will actually yield a brighter future with higher earnings and better jobs. In this explainer, we explore whether the benefits of a college degree outweigh the costs.
blog post What Does the Federal Infrastructure Bill Mean for California Workers? By Sarah Bohn, Shannon McConville, Daniel Payares-Montoya Nov 9, 2021 Federal infrastructure dollars are likely to spur economic activity across the state, and some of the newly created jobs could promote economic mobility among workers with lower levels of education.
Report California’s Need for Skilled Workers By Sarah Bohn Sep 17, 2014 If recent trends continue, California is likely to face a shortage of workers with some college education but less than a bachelor’s degree by 2025. State and federal policymakers have increased their focus on boosting educational opportunities for this segment of the workforce. This report examines labor market outcomes among workers with some college training to shed light on the types of jobs that hold the most promise for future workers and the state economy.
blog post Young Californians May Be Choosing Work over School By Julien Lafortune, Sarah Bohn Sep 14, 2023 How have young adults across the state reacted to the COVID-induced economic downturn? Our analysis finds that, in stark contrast to the Great Recession, the share of young Californians opting for work over school has increased.
blog post Who Works from Home? By Hans Johnson, Sarah Bohn, Eric McGhee Jun 13, 2024 The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic increase in remote work. We examine the demographics of remote work in California and how it varies by education, income, age, and race/ethnicity.
Policy Brief Policy Brief: California’s Care Workforce By Shannon McConville, Daniel Payares-Montoya, Sarah Bohn, Mary Severance Apr 3, 2024 Demand for caregiving services is growing as California’s population ages and as the state invests in early childhood care and learning. There are many workforce challenges—including low pay and limited opportunities for advancement. Efforts in several key areas could improve prospects for care workers and help California meet its caregiving needs.
blog post Without School or Work, Some California Youth Are Left Disconnected from the Economy By Daniel Payares-Montoya May 8, 2024 More than one in ten Californians ages 16 to 24 were neither in school nor participating in the labor market in 2022. While the share of youth who are disconnected from school and employment declined that year, it remained above pre-pandemic levels.
blog post In a Tight Labor Market, Does a College Degree Still Matter for Employment? By Sarah Bohn, Julien Lafortune Jun 16, 2022 The overall employment rate has returned to around pre-pandemic levels for California workers with and without a college degree. Still, among most demographic groups the recovery has lagged for workers without a degree.
Report Does School Choice Work? Effects on Student Integration and Achievement By Julian Betts, Andrew C. Zau, Lorien A. Rice, Y. Emily Tang Aug 30, 2006 Public school choice programs in San Diego—the nation’s eighth-largest school district—are extremely popular, especially among non-white communities; many San Diego families who apply for these programs are turned away each year. San Diego's experience stands against the backdrop of a national debate about choice—with proponents arguing such programs will create better schools and accountability, and opponents countering that they could stratify and resegregate a system premised on educational equality. Researchers examined the selection of students for choice programs and their movements through the school system and found that such programs do seem to have helped to integrate San Diego’s student bodies, not only along racial-ethnic lines but also in terms of students' parental education levels. But evidence that choice programs also boost academic achievement is less clear. With some exceptions—elevated math achievement for students in magnet high schools — those who won lotteries that allowed them to attend choice programs did about the same on standardized tests as non-winners one to three years later.
Report The Changing Role of Education in the California Labor Market By Julian Betts Sep 1, 2000 It has been well-documented that the economic returns to education—that is, the wage gains associated with additional schooling—have risen dramatically in the United States since the late 1970s. In this study, the author examines the extent to which trends in California reflect those of the nation. This report examines: Changes in the educational composition of California's workforce between 1970 and 1997 and how these changes compare with those in the rest of the nation. The extent to which California's postsecondary education sector met the demand for skilled workers between 1970 and 1990. The overall trend in the wage premium earned by college graduates, as well as the trends for high school graduates and those with less than 12 years of schooling. How these trends varied across industrial and regional sectors in California and between native Californians, natives from elsewhere, and immigrants.
