Press Release
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Tribal Government Job Growth Hits 14.8%, Topping All Other California Private and Public Sector Employers

July 15, 2003

Tribal governments continue to rank above all other California private and public sector employers in job growth, registering a 14.8 percent increase in employment for the year ending in June 2003, state figures show.

No other industry experienced job growth anywhere near the figures posted by California tribal governments, according to figures released July 8 by the state Employment Development Department. In fact, virtually all other employers have kept employment steady or slashed their payrolls.

Civilian employment statewide rose only 1.4 percent, from 16.2 to 16.3 million.

“Tribal governments are generating employment growth at a time when the state needs it the most,” says Brenda Soulliere, chairwoman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association. “These jobs are being created at no cost to the taxpayers of California.”

Tribal governments employ 38,700 workers, according to the state EDD, about 90 percent of them non-Indians. Most of the growth in employment is as a result of the tribal government gaming industry. But tribes are using gaming revenues to diversify their economies, developing shopping centers, automobile plants and other businesses.

The Morongo and Cabazon bands of Mission Indians have launched hotels and other tribes have gaming and non-gaming developments in the works that will create even more employment.

“The growth in tribal government employment is likely to continue for the foreseeable future,” says CNIGA Executive Director Jacob Coin, “generating economic development and creating jobs for Indians and residents of the surrounding communities.”

Employment figures can be obtained at: https://www.calmis.ca.gov/file/lfmonth/cal$pr.txt

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