California’s unemployment rate of 10.9% is the nation’s third highest, behind only Nevada and Rhode Island

Many Californians have been departing for more affordable states, with a net loss of four million residents to other states over the past 20 years (while continuing, of course, to attract immigrants - particularly Hispanics.) Of those who remain, nearly two-in-five Californians pay no income tax, and one in four receive Medicaid. Once among the best-educated Americans, Californians are rapidly becoming less so. Among people over 64, California stands second in percentage of people with an associate degree or higher; among those aged 25 to 34, it ranks 30th. As the Hispanic population continues to increase in other states, they too will probably decline in the same way as California.