Sign in Subscribe
Workers

California Leads the Nation in Worker Protections and Labor Rights, Fueling Economic Growth

Strategic Insights

— 3 min read

California continues to assert its leadership in the nation with strong policies on wages, worker protections, and labor rights, solidifying its position as a top place to open a business and a top place for workers to thrive. The state's support of labor unions, working families, and economic development has made it a hub for entrepreneurship and job creation, outpacing all other large states and rebounding swiftly after the COVID-19 pandemic. California's economy is projected to continue growing, with the state creating substantially more businesses than other states, including Florida and Texas.

Key Takeaways:

  • California surpassed Japan as the world's 4th largest economy earlier this year, continuing to lead across multiple sectors and industries.
  • The state has a strong and empowered workforce, with policies that prioritize wages, worker protections, and labor rights, making communities, businesses, and families stronger.
  • California created over 3 million jobs since April 2020, with its economy growing faster than the national economy.
  • The state has substantially more businesses than other states, including Florida and Texas, leading to more jobs and opportunities for workers.
  • California is home to over 4.2 million small businesses, representing 99.9% of all businesses in the state and employing 7 million people.
  • The state supports labor unions and the right to organize, creating a new framework to empower rideshare gig workers and improve rideshare quality and affordability.
  • California has served 215,393 registered apprentices since 2019, solidifying its position as the nation's leader in apprenticeship programs.
  • The state protects fast food workers with a landmark $20/hour minimum wage standard, creating a process that gives workers a voice in developing minimum fast food restaurant employment standards.
  • Governor Newsom's Master Plan for Career Education prioritizes hands-on learning, bolstering pathways to high-paying and fulfilling careers, including those that do not require a college degree.
  • The state is scaling up the Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) effort to make it easier for Californians, especially veterans and members of the military, to turn their real-world experience into college credit.
  • California has removed educational requirements for nearly 30,000 state jobs, streamlining application processes and consolidating positions to make it easier for state employees to advance.
  • The state has increased paid family leave from 6 to 8 weeks for parents of newborn children and paid leave in reach of more lower-wage workers, enabling workers to take paid sick leave or unpaid family leave to care for any person designated by the employee.
  • The Governor signed legislation to protect warehouse workers from unsafe production quotas and nation-leading legislation to end exploitative piece-rate compensation for garment industry workers.

Statistics:

  • California's economy surpassed Japan's earlier this year, becoming the world's 4th largest economy.
  • The state created over 3 million jobs since April 2020.
  • California has substantially more businesses than other states, including Florida and Texas, with over 4.2 million small businesses representing 99.9% of all businesses in the state.
  • The state has served 215,393 registered apprentices since 2019.
  • California has implemented a landmark $20/hour minimum wage standard for fast food workers.
  • The state has established a process to give workers a voice in developing minimum fast food restaurant employment standards, creating a Fast Food Council within the Department of Industrial Relations.
  • Governor Newsom's Master Plan for Career Education aims to provide 500,000 apprenticeships by 2029.
  • The Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) effort seeks to make it easier for Californians, especially veterans and members of the military, to turn their real-world experience into college credit.
  • The state has removed educational requirements for nearly 30,000 state jobs, streamlining application processes and consolidating positions.
  • California has increased paid family leave from 6 to 8 weeks for parents of newborn children and paid leave in reach of more lower-wage workers.

Sources:

  • [Office of the Governor of California]
  • [Newsom, G. (2023, January 1)]. Landmark $20/hour fast food minimum wage standard announcement.
  • [Newsom, G. (2023, February 15)]. California Jobs First Economic Blueprint release.
  • [Newsom, G. (2022, November 10)]. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) effort announcement.
  • [California Department of Industrial Relations (2023, March 31)]. Fast Food Council establishment announcement.

Read more