California lost more than 1 million residents between 2006 and 2016 when comparing how many people moved out of the state and how many moved in. That is just one trend uncovered in a new report from the non-partisan group Next 10.
The study finds people are not moving because they can not find work, they are leaving California because they cannot afford housing.
The report also finds people making less money are struggling the most.
More housing will help bring down costs and the report says construction is lagging.
"There are many challenges and there are opportunities. One of the biggest opportunities is to build more housing next to transit centers and transit lines," said Noel Perry, the founder of Next 10.
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The state ranks second and third nationally when it comes to the cost of owning or renting a home and that is helping perpetuate the housing affordability crisis. The situation is particularly tough on low wage earners.
"That's because they were rent- and house-burdened, specifically that means you're paying 30 percent or more of your income for your housing. And in most instances this related to rentals. So it's not an issue of whether or not there are jobs in California because there are," Perry said.
The report also found that high wage jobs encourage people to move to California, but high wage incomes are climbing faster than middle or low wage incomes. Beacon Economics helped put together the report.
