Any Californian who says “I can’t find a good job (or ANY job)” is thinking small. They need to broaden their job search. There ARE good job openings in the right fields, and/or in the right states. And not just in the oil fracking industry/states. Here’s the latest rankings of unemployment by state:
http://www.bls.gov/web/laus/laumstrk.htm
The best state is North Dakota, a big fracking operation (with ancillary employment needs) with an astoundingly low 2.6% unemployment rate. But most of the rest of the top ten states are NOT fracking states. The 10th state has an unemployment rate of 4.5% — a bit over half of the California unemployment rate (8.1% — fourth highest in the nation).
One surprising state — Texas. Apparently so many people are moving to Texas looking for work that the state ranks 17th, with an unemployment rate of 5.5%. While that’s a far better rate than California and there are many advantages gained from living in Texas, obviously there are other states that definitely deserve serious consideration.
Sadly, our federal and California welfare payments (so MANY different programs!) cause people to be reluctant to move — trying to weather the economic storm — hoping that “some day their job will come.” We PAY people not to work — and to not MOVE to where the work is.