California is a robust and diverse state with an economy larger than that of many countries, and it’s considered the nation’s leading industrial state. Agriculture, technology, tourism, and the motion picture industry provide a wide range of jobs statewide. Here are the top five industries in California.
1. California is home to many technology products, but mostly high-tech computer products. The largest maker of hard disk drives, Western Digital, is also considered one of the state’s leading companies.
The Los Angeles Times reported the company made $15 billion in revenue for 2013.
2. The Golden State is also known for its agriculture. The long growing season and good soil in California plays a vital part in crop production.
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California is the top state in the United States for all farm income. California produces almost all of the country's almonds, apricots, dates, figs, kiwi fruit, nectarines, olives, pistachios, prunes, and walnuts and leads in the production of avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, plums, and strawberries.
As for oranges, only one state — Florida — produces more oranges.
California was also the third-ranked producer of livestock cash receipts — behind Texas and Iowa —
according to the USDA.
3. Aerospace is a very large chunk of the California economy.
The California Economic Summit released the California Aerospace Industry Economic Impact Study in 2014, and found that the aerospace industry is larger than both agriculture and Hollywood combined. California is responsible for 9 percent of the global market share in the aerospace industry.
While a reduction in aerospace jobs in the past two decades has cut into the industry’s growth, California has implemented tax incentives to keep aerospace giants, such as Lockheed Martin Corp., in the state.
4. With so much to see and do in California, the service industry is one of the most successful and busiest in the country.
According to the California Legislative Office, the service industry is the largest single industry sector in the state.
Tourists make California a vacation destination to visit world famous places like Hollywood, Sea World, Disneyland, Yosemite National Park, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
5. The motion picture industry, also known as Hollywood, accounts for a significant amount of California’s economy.
According to Film Works, the motion picture industry supports more than 2.4 million jobs nationwide.
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