A new policy brief from the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) examines the intersection of employment and economic instability in the state. Authored by a team of researchers, the report analyzes workforce dynamics, income disparities, and the effectiveness of social safety net programs. n nSarah Bohn, vice president and director of the PPIC Economic Policy Center, leads the initiative. A labor economist with expertise in workforce development and education policy, Bohn has published in prominent journals such as the American Economic Review and The Review of Economics and Statistics. Her work emphasizes pathways to upward mobility for workers and families. n nSean Cremin, a research associate at PPIC, focuses on reducing labor market inequities and improving economic access through policy reform. He previously evaluated anti-poverty programs at NORC, University of Chicago, and holds a master’s in public affairs from Princeton. n nRobert Santillano, an independent researcher, draws from personal experience with social services to study child welfare, homelessness, immigration, and workforce training. Formerly an economist at Mathematica and research director at UCLA’s California Policy Lab, he earned his PhD from UC Berkeley. n nTess Thorman, a senior research associate, investigates economic well-being with a focus on earnings and public assistance. Her recent studies include food aid and tax credits for low-income households. She holds an MPP from USC and a dual degree in English and musical studies from Oberlin. n nMark Baldassare, PPIC’s survey director and former president, brings expertise in public opinion and political behavior. He has led the PPIC Statewide Survey since 1998 and advised legislative bodies on fiscal and electoral matters. n nMary Severance, senior editor at PPIC, ensures research outputs are accessible to diverse audiences. With a background in academic publishing and English instruction, she shapes communications across platforms. n
— News Original —nPolicy Brief: Work and Economic Insecurity in Californian nAbout the Authors n nSarah Bohn is vice president and director of the PPIC Economic Policy Center and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, where she holds the John and Louise Bryson chair in policy research. She is also a member of the PPIC Higher Education Center. As the founding director of the PPIC Economic Policy Center, she leads research and engagement to inform California policymaking to support greater opportunity and upward mobility for workers, families, and businesses statewide. A labor economist, her research focuses on the job market, workforce skills, and the role of education and government programs in upward mobility. Her other areas of expertise include immigration policy, poverty measurement, income inequality, and career technical education. Her work has been published in major academic journals, including the American Economic Review, Demography, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, and The Review of Economics and Statistics. Previously she served as vice president of research at PPIC. She holds a PhD in economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. n nSean Cremin is a research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California where he is a member of the Economic Policy Center. His research focuses on advancing upward mobility, reducing labor market disparities, and expanding socioeconomic opportunities through more equitable and effective economic policymaking. Prior to joining PPIC, he worked as a senior research associate at NORC at the University of Chicago where he supported evaluations of federally funded programs aimed at mitigating poverty and inequality. He holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a BA in politics, philosophy, and economics from Pomona College. n nRobert Santillano is an independent researcher focusing on partnerships that improve public well-being—particularly for those experiencing economic insecurity. His interest in this work comes from lived experience with many of the social service programs he studies. He has published research covering child welfare, early childhood education, K–12 education, homelessness, family support, immigration, the safety net, and workforce training topic areas. Prior to starting his firm, he was an economist at Mathematica and also served as research director at the California Policy Lab at UCLA. He received his PhD in agricultural and resource economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA in math from Pomona College. n nTess Thorman is a senior research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California, and a member of both the Safety Net and Economic Policy Center teams. Thorman’s research centers on economic well-being and opportunity in California, with particular attention to the roles of social safety net programs and earnings. Recent work has examined food assistance and state tax credits for low-income families, characteristics of California’s workforce, and trends in income inequality in California. Thorman holds an MPP from the University of Southern California and a BA with majors in English and musical studies from Oberlin College. n nMark Baldassare is survey director at the Public Policy Institute of California, where he holds the Arjay and Frances Fearing Miller Chair in Public Policy. From 2007 to 2022, he also served as president and CEO of PPIC. Prior to that, he served as PPIC’s director of research. He is a leading expert on public opinion and survey methodology and has directed the PPIC Statewide Survey since 1998. He is an authority on elections, voter behavior, and political and fiscal reform, authoring ten books and numerous reports on these topics. He often provides testimony before legislative committees and state commissions. Before joining PPIC, he was a professor of urban and regional planning at the University of California, Irvine, where he held the Johnson Chair in Civic Governance. He has conducted surveys for the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the California Business Roundtable. He holds a PhD in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. n nMary Severance is a senior editor at the Public Policy Institute of California. She edits and helps develop publications and briefings so that they are accessible to their audiences. She also writes copy for the PPIC website and for institutional publications. Before she joined PPIC in 2008 as the institute’s production editor, she was a senior project editor at University of California Press. She has also worked as a copyeditor and college English instructor. She holds an MA and PhD in English from the State University of New York, Buffalo, and a BA in English from Carleton College. n nAbout the Authors n nSarah Bohn is vice president and director of the PPIC Economic Policy Center and senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, where she holds the John and Louise Bryson chair in policy research. She is also a member of the PPIC Higher Education Center. As the founding director of the PPIC Economic Policy Center, she leads research and engagement to inform California policymaking to support greater opportunity and upward mobility for workers, families, and businesses statewide. A labor economist, her research focuses on the job market, workforce skills, and the role of education and government programs in upward mobility. Her other areas of expertise include immigration policy, poverty measurement, income inequality, and career technical education. Her work has been published in major academic journals, including the American Economic Review, Demography, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, and The Review of Economics and Statistics. Previously she served as vice president of research at PPIC. She holds a PhD in economics from the University of Maryland, College Park. n nSean Cremin is a research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California where he is a member of the Economic Policy Center. His research focuses on advancing upward mobility, reducing labor market disparities, and expanding socioeconomic opportunities through more equitable and effective economic policymaking. Prior to joining PPIC, he worked as a senior research associate at NORC at the University of Chicago where he supported evaluations of federally funded programs aimed at mitigating poverty and inequality. He holds a master’s degree in public affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs and a BA in politics, philosophy, and economics from Pomona College. n nRobert Santillano is an independent researcher focusing on partnerships that improve public well-being—particularly for those experiencing economic insecurity. His interest in this work comes from lived experience with many of the social service programs he studies. He has published research covering child welfare, early childhood education, K–12 education, homelessness, family support, immigration, the safety net, and workforce training topic areas. Prior to starting his firm, he was an economist at Mathematica and also served as research director at the California Policy Lab at UCLA. He received his PhD in agricultural and resource economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA in math from Pomona College. n nTess Thorman is a senior research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California, and a member of both the Safety Net and Economic Policy Center teams. Thorman’s research centers on economic well-being and opportunity in California, with particular attention to the roles of social safety net programs and earnings. Recent work has examined food assistance and state tax credits for low-income families, characteristics of California’s workforce, and trends in income inequality in California. Thorman holds an MPP from the University of Southern California and a BA with majors in English and musical studies from Oberlin College. n nMark Baldassare is survey director at the Public Policy Institute of California, where he holds the Arjay and Frances Fearing Miller Chair in Public Policy. From 2007 to 2022, he also served as president and CEO of PPIC. Prior to that, he served as PPIC’s director of research. He is a leading expert on public opinion and survey methodology and has directed the PPIC Statewide Survey since 1998. He is an authority on elections, voter behavior, and political and fiscal reform, authoring ten books and numerous reports on these topics. He often provides testimony before legislative committees and state commissions. Before joining PPIC, he was a professor of urban and regional planning at the University of California, Irvine, where he held the Johnson Chair in Civic Governance. He has conducted surveys for the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the California Business Roundtable. He holds a PhD in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley. n nMary Severance is a senior editor at the Public Policy Institute of California. She edits and helps develop publications and briefings so that they are accessible to their audiences. She also writes copy for the PPIC website and for institutional publications. Before she joined PPIC in 2008 as the institute’s production editor, she was a senior project editor at University of California Press. She has also worked as a copyeditor and college English instructor. She holds an MA and PhD in English from the State University of New York, Buffalo, and a BA in English from Carleton College.