The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), with support from The James Irvine Foundation and the Arjay and Frances F. Miller Foundation, released the fifth PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Economic Well-Being. The survey focused on Californian’s views on fiscal priorities for the next president, the state’s economic outlook, personal finances, the impact of AI on jobs, and public funding for job training. Key findings from the survey include: 

• Fifty-two percent of Californians say that “getting costs and inflation under control” and 45% say that “building an economy that gives every American a chance to succeed” should be economic priorities for the next president.
• Twenty-six percent of residents, including about four in ten adults living on low incomes, worry every day or almost every day about housing costs.
• Fifty-two percent of Californians have an unfavorable opinion on artificial intelligence (AI), with one in three workers expressing concerns that AI could lead their jobs or hours being cut, including 4 in 10 of those with lower incomes.
• Most working Californians (61%) have jobs with opportunities for growth and advancement, and 56% report access to education and training assistance. However, fewer than half of low-wage workers have jobs that provide these opportunities.
• A majority of Californians (eight in 10) support increasing government funding for job training programs.

The PPIC Statewide Survey delivers nonpartisan, objective, advocacy-free information on the perceptions, opinions, and public policy preferences of California residents. The survey is conducted regularly throughout the year.