UC Berkeley: California Could Lose Up to 217,000 Jobs from Medicaid Cuts, About Two-Thirds in Health Care
Issue
The UC Berkeley Labor Center estimates that federal Medicaid cuts could eliminate up to 217,000 California jobs, with roughly two-thirds (about 145,000) in health care — hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, nursing homes, and home care — and up to 72,000 in non-health industries that depend on health-sector spending. The center models $10–20 billion/year less in federal Medi-Cal funding, up to $37 billion in reduced economic output, and up to $1.7 billion in lost state and local tax revenue.
County examples: Alameda up to 7,900 jobs, Contra Costa up to 4,800.
Key points
- UC Berkeley: up to 217K California jobs at risk from Medicaid cuts — ~2/3 (≈145K) in health care, up to 72K in dependent industries
- Modeled hit: $10–20B/yr less federal Medi-Cal funding, up to $37B reduced economic output, $1.7B lost state/local tax revenue
- County examples: Alameda up to 7,900 jobs, Contra Costa up to 4,800
Sources for this story
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Part of
FQHC Talent. (2026, March 24). UC Berkeley: California Could Lose Up to 217,000 Jobs from Medicaid Cuts, About Two-Thirds in Health Care. Source: UC Berkeley Labor Center. Retrieved October 6, 2026, from https://www.fqhctalent.com/intel/uc-berkeley-72k-145k-healthcare-job-loss-projection