FOX News Senior National Correspondent William La Jeunesse writes a “Special Report” on proposed changes to California’s electricity rates.
California now has the highest unemployment rate in the nation after new data revealed the Golden State’s job growth in 2023 will be much lower than previously thought.
Data from the state Employment Development Department It shows California’s unemployment rate reached 5.3% last month.
Meanwhile, federal data shows California added just 50,000 jobs from September 2022 to September 2023, far fewer than the 300,000 originally indicated.
California lost 2.7 million jobs at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s strict stay-at-home order forced many businesses to close. Since then, the state has added 3 million jobs, according to the EDD.
A view of the California State Capitol during National Urban League California Legislative Advocacy Day on March 13, 2024 in Sacramento, California. (Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for the National Urban League/Getty Images)
The economic slowdown is impacting the state’s budget. California faces a multibillion-dollar deficit for the second year in a row. The Newsom administration reported a deficit of $37.9 billion in January. But the nonpartisan Legislative Analysis Service believes the number could reach $73 billion.
US economy adds 275,000 jobs in February, unemployment rate rises
FOX Business asked the governor’s office for answers about these numbers.
“Who would have thought that high taxes, expensive energy, and rampant crime would hurt the economy? California workers are dealing with the consequences of Newsom’s far-left policies.” California Congressional Leader James・Gallagher told FOX Business in a statement. “If Democrats don’t stop punishing job creators and rewarding criminals, things will only get worse.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom attends an event with other governors in the East Room of the White House on February 23, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, unemployment rates in Florida and Texas, conservative states that often parallel California’s progressive policies, remained below 4% in February.
From September 2022 to September 2023, Texas added approximately 340,000 new jobs and Florida added more than 235,000 new jobs.
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Last Congress, Texas lawmakers posted a record surplus of $32 billion. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the state could enter the next legislative session with an estimated $20 billion budget surplus. Florida’s budget includes a $14.6 billion surplus this year, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office.
