California Surpasses Japan as the World’s Fourth Largest Economy

Before dawn breaks over California’s fields and coastlines, millions of people are already at work, drawing value from the land and water that shape the state. According to the University of California, these working landscapes generate $404 billion in annual sales and support nearly 1.5 million jobs. Their efforts helped California surpass Japan last year to become the world’s fourth largest economy.

Researchers with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources tell this story in a new report that updates data first published in 2019. Farms, ranches, forests, fisheries, renewable energy sites and even mines together support 75,500 businesses and provide $103 billion in worker earnings.

At the heart of it all is agriculture. More than 62,800 agricultural businesses generate $310.8 billion in sales and over 1.2 million jobs, confirming California as the nation’s most productive agricultural state. “This report once again shows how our working landscapes are critical as a foundation of the California economy,” said Glenda Humiston of UC ANR.

For more, visit https://ucanr.edu/blog/anr-news-releases/article/working-landscapes-report