California, by a wide margin, saw more job losses than any other state in 2023, according to a new report from the National Association of Realtors.
The Golden State saw about 87,000 professionals move to other areas while 69,000 moved to California, the agency found, based on data from the US Census Bureau.
“The high cost of housing—especially in areas such as San Francisco and Los Angeles—along with the cost of goods, has led many workers to move to more expensive states such as Texas and Arizona,” the report said.
The organization said California’s high tax rate was also a factor – driving workers to states with higher taxes. The top places were Texas (14%), Arizona (9%), Washington (8%) and Nevada (7%).
US Net Migration Trends. October 2024 (National Association of Realtors)
Other states that saw job losses in 2023 include Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York.
The places that got the most job changes were the most in the southern part of the United States, like Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida.
The organization points out that the most populous countries in the world see the most migration, so comparisons can be difficult.
Home prices in Los Angeles are near record highs
“Larger areas have more people moving in and out, so their migration numbers tend to be higher because of more residents,” the report says. “This makes it difficult to compare it to small countries, which may have fewer people but can be attractive to a person.”
A map and chart showing the country’s job losses and gains. (National Association of Realtors)
The latest Census data shows California’s population has grown to nearly 39 million people in 2023 after three consecutive years of decline.
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