California Gains 35.5K Jobs & Unemployment Falls | LA Times
California's unemployment rate drops to record low 4.4% and professor Dave Smith mentions the possibilities of wage growth
Pepperdine Graziadio Associate Professor of Economics and Associate Provost for Online
Programs David M. Smith, PhD, is quoted in Andrew Knouri's Los Angeles Times article on record low unemployment rates in California. Dr. Smith specifically addresses
wage growth, which he believes is likely: “I don’t see how we can avoid decent wage
growth, which is a positive thing for workers."
The article reviews current statistics for job growth instate and nationwide, while
also addressing potential roadblocks to ongoing growth. According to Khouri's article,
experts say some of these roadblocks stem from federal policy. If President Trump
were to impose sharp steel tariffs that set off a trade war, consumer prices would
likely rise. California’s agriculture industry could also be directly affected. Los
Angeles County has the nation’s largest port complex in San Pedro Bay, so the effects
of federal policy on L.A. county are also addressed in the article.