California’s Changing Demographics
California has a population just short of 40 million. Our population growth is sharply slowing due to lower birth rates, lower immigration rates and higher out migration rates to other states. We are a young state that is aging as the baby boomers hit 65 and 70. Our life expectancy is continuing to increase, and our school age population is declining. That will change the demand for financing publicly funded programs. Poverty rates for the young have been declining while they are growing for older Californians – a marked change from the past 50+ years. Poverty rates are as high as 20% in the faster growing inland California counties like Fresno and as low as 8% in the slower growing coastal counties like San Francisco – in my opinion county funding formulas may need adjusting. Our population is becoming ever more highly educated with 34% of those between 25 and 64 now having at least a bachelor’s degree; the lack of a bachelor’s degree now translates into a poverty rate three times as high for workers without the college degree.
The priority for growing and nurturing a well-educated young working population and for welcoming immigrants is becoming ever more imperative. In this regard, California stands at cross purposes with the policy predilections of the Trump Administration.
Prepared by: Lucien Wulsin
Dated: 1/19/20