California to Generate 1 in 6 Jobs, Study Says

One of every six jobs created through the turn of the century is expected to be in California, reflecting the continued shift of economic activity to the Sun Belt, the government said Monday.

“California is projected to gain 3.4 million of the 18.9 million new jobs created nationally” from 1988 to 2000, said the forecast by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. That would give the state 19 million jobs, up 21.4%.

“Florida and Texas are projected to have increases of more than 1 million jobs each,” to 8 million and 9.7 million respectively, the department said.

National employment opportunities are expected to rise 14.3% to 151.5 million jobs.

The study projected that the fastest job growth will be in Nevada, up 31.5% to 847,000, and Arizona, up 26.7% to 2.3 million. Those two states also should show the fastest growth rates in total personal income and population, the department said.

“The projected growth in Nevada and Arizona reflects rapid population growth and strength in their economies, in part due to the continued shift in economic activity toward the Sun Belt,” the study said. “Florida, Utah, California and Hawaii also are projected to show rapid growth.”

California will continue to be the nation’s most populous state, growing 17.1% to 33.2 million people. It also will be first in total personal income, up 33% to $568 billion.

Personal income will jump 46.2% to $21.7 billion in Nevada and 40.6% to $59 billion in Arizona.

Total U.S. personal income is expected to advance 26.2% to $4.11 trillion. The income projections are adjusted for inflation.

The population in Nevada is projected to rise the fastest, 29.8%.