Image by Art of NguOPINION – The state of California should be taking active steps to ensure that historic infrastructure investments recently authorized in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento provide middle class wages, safeguard against misclassification, and utilize the most highly trained and efficient workforce available.
Image by Gorodenkoff via ShutterstockIt’s clear we need to take action now to equip all California students with the knowledge and experience to compete in the workforce of the future.
Image by faithie via ShutterstockAfter decades of neglect, California’s infrastructure is poised for an upgrade. Thanks in part to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden in November 2021, the Golden State is set to receive more than $100 billion in federal and state infrastructure funds over the next several years.
Per a recent Axios study, only 14% of young people want to spend their career in the government or in nonprofit work. This makes the government by far the least enticing employer to Gen Z, who overwhelmingly responded that they would rather work at any size company instead.
Students at graduation ceremonies, Santa Monica City College. (Photo: Joseph Sohm, via Shutterstock)OPINION: Gov. Newsom proposed one of the most consequential higher education policies this year: a 70 percent college attainment goal by 2030 and multi-year investment compacts with the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) to collectively grow enrollment over the next five years by 21,000 new seats while closing racial equity gaps in enrollment and completion.
A food court in a popular shopping mall offering a variety of brands. (Photo, Thiti Sukapan, via Shutterstock)OPINION: The franchise model, whereby a brand and business are developed by a franchisor and a franchisee pays for the right to distribute products and services based on the model, is a time-honored way of achieving success. From auto repair (Meineke Car Care Centers) to childcare (Kiddie Academy), the franchise model meets the needs of a community with a known and trusted brand.
Illustration by Quentin Lueninghoener, via FairWarningFrom FairWarning: In February, when California labor officials announced the biggest wage theft case against a private company in state history, they made sure to include a warning for all bosses:“Stealing earned wages from workers’ pockets is illegal in California and this case shows that employers who steal from their workers will end up paying for it in the end,” said Labor Secretary Julie Su in a press release announcing nearly $12 million in citations against RDV Construction, Inc. RDV has appealed the penalties.
Health care workers in a hospital corridor. (Photo: Pixel-Shot, via Shutterstock)OPINION: California has a healthcare workforce crisis. Over the next decade, this state’s 39 million residents face a health worker shortfall of 4,100 primary care physicians and 600,000 home care workers, and we will have only two-thirds of the psychiatrists and mental health providers needed.
Adult entertainment clubs a decade ago in San Francisco's North Beach district. (Photo: James Kirkikis, via Shutterstock)No one at the strip club wanted to talk about Dynamex. Dynamex refers to a landmark decision by the California Supreme Court, officially known as Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court of Los Angeles, that set standards to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor.
CalPERS' headquarters in Sacramento. (Photo: Kit LeongOPINION: In Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recently released state budget he proposed to contribute an additional $3 billion to the CalPERS fund. This commitment is a prudent one that will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fund.