Remember when Rightguide whined "The California fast food market is collapsing!" Yeah, about that...

[BabyBoomer50s]

What pretty graphs you have posted! "Synthetic Control Methods" and "Difference-in-Difference"? Sounds like exciting new frontiers in getting the results desired! Would you please link to where you obtained these bold new methods so that we unwashed masses can educate ourselves on this bold new methodology?

Also, as I recall the California Fast Food minimum wage hike went into effect in April 2024, not 2023 as you claim,

And finally, what factors constitute this Fred Index? I'll hold off on clutching mah pearls until I get a better understanding of what makes up these oh-so-scary but pretty graphs.

Game on, MacDuff!

This should be FUN!

Typo. Meant effective date April 2024, not 23.

 

[MajorRewrite]

Typo. Meant effective date April 2024, not 23.

In “synthetic California” is the fast food made of plastic?

 

[Rightguide]

Yes we all remember when the prescient RG told us of the coming loss of jobs in CA due to the Minimum Wage hike. Now we see the actual data rolling in that proves his mastery of future events:

https://californiaglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/cropped-california-globe-logo-main-2.png

Shocking 16,000 Jobs Lost Due to California’s $20 Fast Food Wage Hike
https://californiaglobe.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/shutterstock_1469312822-1210x642.jpg
Mill Valley, CA: Workers at In-N-Out location behind counter take orders. (Photo: David Tran Photo, Shutterstock)

Shocking 16,000 Jobs Lost Due to California’s $20 Fast Food Wage Hike​

The data comes from the new Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
By Katy Grimes, March 8, 2025 9:19 am

By the time California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law the $20 minimum wage for fast food workers, he had been warned by many that it would be devastating for the industry, but he did it anyway. Now, 16,000 fast food jobs have been lost and fast food prices are up more than 14.5%. And here is why: the $20 minimum wage harms California’s least skilled and least experienced workers, as they are no more productive, but are significantly more expensive, and results in harms the business owners as well.

This week, new data released from the new Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) shows that California has now lost as many as 16,000 fast food jobs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages includes mandatory reports from industry employers. The Employment Policies Institute reminds us that “this dataset is the gold standard for economists, and has been lauded by even Newsom’s favorite economists as the best on-the-ground look at a sector’s economic situation.”

A new analysis from the Employment Policies Institute of quarterly data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that California has lost as many as 16,000 jobs since the state’s $20 fast food minimum wage law was signed in September 2023. (The state is down nearly 14,000 jobs since the law officially took effect in April 2024.) The data includes mandatory reporting from all fast food establishments and covers the first six months since the implementation of the law. See the monthly changes here:

https://californiaglobe.com/article...st-due-to-californias-20-fast-food-wage-hike/

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

​

California’s fast-food industry is shedding jobs, study says​

New research published by Pepperdine Universityis attempting to settle the debate over whether boosting California’s minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour has led to job losses.

The study, released on April 1 to coincide with the one-year anniversary of AB 1228, cites recent data from the California Employment Development Department that shows a decline of over 23,100 jobs. At the same time, fast-food employment grew by 0.8% nationwide, researchers said.
https://ktla.com/news/california/ne...nce-californias-fast-food-minimum-wage-boost/

https://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu...umping-the-gun-on-the-fast-act-compressed.pdf

 

[Chernosoth]

I see a niche that could thrive for a little while, fast food at highway exits and airports for people leaving California.

 

[Rightguide]

​

California’s fast-food industry is shedding jobs, study says​

New research published by Pepperdine Universityis attempting to settle the debate over whether boosting California’s minimum wage for fast-food workers to $20 an hour has led to job losses.

The study, released on April 1 to coincide with the one-year anniversary of AB 1228, cites recent data from the California Employment Development Department that shows a decline of over 23,100 jobs. At the same time, fast-food employment grew by 0.8% nationwide, researchers said.
https://ktla.com/news/california/ne...nce-californias-fast-food-minimum-wage-boost/

https://publicpolicy.pepperdine.edu...umping-the-gun-on-the-fast-act-compressed.pdf

It's fun pulling their chain.

 

[Rightguide]

I see a niche that could thrive for a little while, fast food at highway exits and airports for people leaving California.

...and paying their last 11.25% tax on the way out.

 

[MajorRewrite]

The number of fast-food restaurants in California increased from 34,691 to 34,782. Doesn’t sound like an industry in distress.

And the average weekly wage increased 12.9%. Good.

I actually couldn’t care less about the fast food industry, but it does seem to be of utmost importance to MAGA sheep. Weird.

 

[Rotadom]

16,000 useful important federal jobs lost is good.

16,000 low paying entry level jobs lost is bad.

 

[Rightguide]

The number of fast-food restaurants in California increased from 34,691 to 34,782. Doesn’t sound like an industry in distress.

And the average weekly wage increased 12.9%. Good.

I actually couldn’t care less about the fast food industry, but it does seem to be of utmost importance to MAGA sheep. Weird.

The discussion was about lost jobs in the fast food industry, not about the opening of 91 newly automated fast food businesses.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

The number of fast-food restaurants in California increased from 34,691 to 34,782. Doesn’t sound like an industry in distress.

And the average weekly wage increased 12.9%. Good.

I actually couldn’t care less about the fast food industry, but it does seem to be of utmost importance to MAGA sheep. Weird.

Ever seen a rally of MAGA's, all overweight. Do you think there might be a connection between their obesity and love of fast food?

 

[MajorRewrite]

The discussion was about lost jobs in the fast food industry, not about the opening of 91 newly automated fast food businesses.

Is it? Your comment in this thread:

A hint as to why this might be true is the simple fact that so many fast-food businesses have simply closed down and have not reopened.

Anyway, the fast food industry that you apparently are obsessed with is alive and well in California.

 

[MajorRewrite]

Let’s look at the numbers:

16,000 jobs decrease.
34,782 fast food restaurants.

= 0.42 jobs lost per restaurant

0.42 jOBs LoSt!!!!!

I can understand why the MAGA sheep are so very upset. Let me tell you, it’s a tragedy when a half a job disappears. Well, almost half a job.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

It's fun pulling their chain.

Liberal Californians support higher prices and oppose private sector jobs.

 

[MajorRewrite]

Liberal Californians support higher prices and oppose private sector jobs.

Still upset about 0.42 job lost?

 

[Chernosoth]

Ever seen a rally of MAGA's, all overweight. Do you think there might be a connection between their obesity and love of fast food?

The average modern poverty diet is heavily junk food, with preservatives, sugar, emulsifiers, etc. That's what they can afford. The poor live in polluted areas, where their bodies become fatter to sequester the toxins they absorb. They may also develop unhealthy habits such as smoking to drag themselves through the exhausting hours of their jobs. They accept the tradeoff of long term illness for the short term benefit of keeping their jobs one more day.

 

[Fuzzy1975]

The average modern poverty diet is heavily junk food, with preservatives, sugar, emulsifiers, etc. That's what they can afford. The poor live in polluted areas, where their bodies become fatter to sequester the toxins they absorb. They may also develop unhealthy habits such as smoking to drag themselves through the exhausting hours of their jobs. They accept the tradeoff of long term illness for the short term benefit of keeping their jobs one more day.

Excellent description of the average maga.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Still upset about 0.42 job lost?

No. Sharing data that shows what’s happened to prices and employment in the wake of the minimum raise increase in the fast food sector. Prices increased by 14.5% and CA employment in the industry shrank in contrast to industry growth nationally.

 

[ll74]

So there's no fast food on California anymore?

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

The average modern poverty diet is heavily junk food, with preservatives, sugar, emulsifiers, etc. That's what they can afford. The poor live in polluted areas, where their bodies become fatter to sequester the toxins they absorb. They may also develop unhealthy habits such as smoking to drag themselves through the exhausting hours of their jobs. They accept the tradeoff of long term illness for the short term benefit of keeping their jobs one more day.

Fast food is generally unhealthy and is a contributing factor to obesity in California and at the national level. However, reading AB1228 and arguments in support of it, there’s nothing to indicate that discouraging fast food consumption by raising prices and reducing employment was the motive for raising CA’s fast food minimum wage.

 

[ll74]

Fast food is generally unhealthy and is a contributing factor to obesity in California and at the national level. However, reading AB1228 and arguments in support of it, there’s nothing to indicate that discouraging fast food consumption by raising prices and reducing employment was the motive for raising CA’s fast food minimum wage.

The only real definition of fast food is that it's fast. Any unhealthy costs to afford it only exist because of time/prep.

My hello fresh meals are fast food. They are healthy and inexpensive

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

The only real definition of fast food is that it's fast. Any unhealthy costs to afford it only exist because of time/prep.

My hello fresh meals are fast food. They are healthy and inexpensive

That’s true but healthy fast food represents a small share of the sector. Drive anywhere in CA and for every healthy fast food establishment, you’ll see dozens of McDonalds, Burger Kings, Carl’s Junior, Taco Bell, KFC, Jack in the Box, Del Taco, etc.

 

[ll74]

That’s true but healthy fast food represents a small share of the sector. Drive anywhere in CA and for every healthy fast food establishment, you’ll see dozens of McDonalds, Burger Kings, Carl’s Junior, Taco Bell, KFC, Jack in the Box, Del Taco, etc.

You can also do that in other states.

So are they all closing down in California?

No?

This thread is a lie then

 

[MajorRewrite]

No. Sharing data that shows what’s happened to prices and employment in the wake of the minimum raise increase in the fast food sector. Prices increased by 14.5% and CA employment in the industry shrank in contrast to industry growth nationally.

So you are pretending to be upset about that 0.42 job.

What has the trend been in the number of employees per fast food restaurant over a number of years? I bet they’ve been slowly shedding employees over a long period.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

You can also do that in other states.

So are they all closing down in California?

No?

This thread is a lie then

Right. The industry hasn’t collapsed so if RG made that claim (I haven’t checked), it isn’t true. Californians are paying an average of 14.5% more for fast food. They’re used to it. They pay extraordinary high prices for all kinds of things, including housing, utilities, gas, taxes, etc.