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The latest news and updates from the California Business Roundtable. Sign up to receive updates straight to your inbox at [email protected].

Golden State Promise and California Business Roundtable Announce Strategic Partnership for 2026 Election Cycle

Coordinated, complementary, and comprehensive effort to protect California’s economy and address cost-of-living challenges...
SACRAMENTO, CA — California Business Roundtable President Rob Lapsley issued the following response to Governor Newsom's announcement today on retail theft this holiday season: 
SACRAMENTO, CA — The California Center for Jobs and the Economy today released this special report which uses recently released US EPA data to conduct a thorough fact-check of California's climate initiatives. The findings reveal that not only has California failed to significantly outpace other states in reducing climate emissions, but it has also directly escalated costs, such as electricity, resulting in California having some of the highest national energy costs in its pursuit of climate change objectives.
SACRAMENTO—The united business community today issued the following response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned affirmative action practices for college and university admissions:
SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Business Roundtable extends sincere appreciation to Assemblymember Irwin, Chair of Assembly Revenue and Taxation, and the committee members for their prudent decision to hold Assembly Bill 259, the wealth tax proposal. We thank Assemblymember Irwin for her leadership and the committee's commitment to maintaining fiscal stability.

Latest News from the Center for Jobs

Latest on what is driving California’s economy, job growth, and other key indicators. Get updates straight to your inbox at [email protected]

Special Report: California Becomes 4th Largest Economy as Japan’s Economy Slowed in 2024

In the latest data from International Monetary Fund (IMF), California—if it was treated as a separate economy—moved from 5th largest in the world to 4th largest as Japan’s economy contracted. However, Japan is projected to resume growth at 4% in 2025, while India is projected to continue moving up the ranks with 7% growth....
In August, California average residential electricity rates (12-month moving average) passed a new milepost, coming in at just more than double the average for the rest of the US. Electricity rates across all three primary end users as well as the cost of fuels remained the highest in the contiguous states.
The July trade data showed strong results for California and its ports as shippers produced an early surge in activity in order to stay ahead of pending tariffs and potential labor actions. Origin exports rose 7.3% in nominal terms compared to a year ago. Total trade activity through the state ports accelerated by 22.7%, with the strongest increases coming from a steep rise in imports.
The Center for Jobs and the Economy tracks closely California’s Trade sector and its importance in creating well-paying, resilient jobs for millions of residents. California’s Trade sector is a national economic powerhouse, with more than 1 in 51 jobs nationwide supported by the sector. To further quantify the impacts of this sector, the Center released a detailed economic study, “Special Report: Economic Importance of Trade & the Ports to Southern California,” which quantified the importance of this sector.
Following the passage of the increase to the minimum wage for specified fast food workers, much attention has been paid to the impacts the wage increase will have on jobs. While anecdotal data, including the closure of legacy fast-food chain stores in California, has made headlines, we are now able to use empirical data to track the law’s impacts on jobs and the economy. Despite what some are saying, the data are clear: newly passed fast food minimum wage laws are leading to job losses in California.
The JOLTS (Job Openings & Labor Turnover Survey) estimates continue to indicate California employers are cutting back on their hiring plans, reducing the likely scale of future jobs growth in the state.
The July numbers were generally positive, but again at levels showing the state economy largely running in place. After posting the worst unemployment rate among the states 5 months in a row, California finally notched down to the second worst in July, tying with Illinois in that slot. The total number of unemployed, however, remained above the 1 million mark for the 7th month in a row. Employment while showing a marginal gain of 7,300 for the month still was 88,700 below the near term high posted in May 2023.