Stevia plants being cultivated in a Central Valley nursery (S&W Seed Company).
The California economy is still struggling but the signs are encouraging. The state unemployment rate for January was 10.9 percent, the first time in three years that it went below 11 percent.
Trade, transportation and utilities all showed healthy job growth in California, while TV and motion picture production saw a dip.
Nationally, even though analysts think the rate of job growth will slow, they still see an indication that the economy is now on a steady growth path after two-and-a-half years of a bumpy recovery marked by fits and starts.
In Rocklin, CA, something happened worth noting. A rain gutter company called Gutter Glove, moved its manufacturing from China to Southern California! Founder Robert Lenny put out bids for aluminum manufacturing and several Southern California companies submitted bids that justified returning not only to the U.S., but to California.
Jobs moving to China isn’t only challenge California’s economy faces. Some of our neighboring states have been in trying to pick off business. Oregon has been aggressive in targeting food processors. Stevia First Corp. said “thanks but no” to Oregon and is staying in California, right in Yuba City. It’s a new company capitalizing on the boom times for the new sweetener, stevia, and just opened it’s new HQ with research and development, greenhouse, nursery facilities.
The need for video game developers is increasing as manufacturers in Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose are all looking for experienced help.
Too many Californians are still out of work or are under-employed. While the news is getting a little better on the job front in California, much is still to be done. The state sits well above the national average of 8.3 percent unemployment.
That’s where the the California Economic Summit comes in. The Summit will be held on May 11 in Santa Clara, attracting regional leaders from around California to discuss and forge a consensus on how the state can boost job creation and improve our economic competitiveness.
We invite you to get involved as we prepare for the first California Economic Summit.
