“As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation.”-phrase usually associated with government regulations originating in California, but it also refers to the economy

Federal government austerity measures (whether it’s the automatic fiscal cliff, or those agreed to by the President and Congress), could go into effect in January 2013 and could result in 225,000 Californians losing their jobs.  More than half of those would be from defense cuts (Almost $500 billion USD in defense cuts are being considered, which could result in at least half a million people losing their jobs across the country).

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman has already announced voluntary buyouts for 200 employees in California and Utah.

The second largest U.S. defense contractor, Boeing, said it will try to cut $1.6 billion from its operations by 2015.  The cuts will affect Boeing’s operations in California, including the selling or demolishing of Boeing property.

The Los Angeles court system (the biggest in the country) will shut down some operations.  Some of the courthouses to be closed are Catalina Island, Hollywood, San Pedro, Whittier and Pomona.  No word on how many people will lose their jobs.  The shut down of the courts will drastically affect civil cases.

Citigroup’s recently announced lay offs will affect about 240 employees in California.

The College of the Redwoods will cut a total of 39 jobs by June 2013.

Geron Corporation to cut 40% of employees after its cancer drug turned out to be a failure.

Entropic, home networking technology supplier to cable and satellite TV companies, will lay off 40 employees.

Memorial Medical Center to lay off 114 people by January 2013.

Dignity Health will let go 50 employees at their Saint John’s hospitals.

Kaiser Permanente officially announced 530 lay offs.

San Diego Hospice laid off 180 employees.

Santa Barbara Bank & Trust: “…468 positions will be eliminated over the course of the next twelve months. 80 percent of those whose positions have been eliminated will not depart the bank until at least April 30, 2013….”

Fourth Wall Studios suddenly laid off about 90% of its staff, reports say the layoffs were driven by a major shareholder: “It was a sudden decision and not necessarily expected by everyone, and I have to leave it at that…”-Jim Stewartson, CEO

The preceding list came from announcements made between 29 November and 06 December 2012.