This is incorrect
Census 2025 figures show California’s population has *recovered* from 2020 & has been increasing in population every year since 2022
2020: 39,538,223
2025: 39,529,000
Decade growth rate: -0.02%
2022-25 growth rate: +0.9%
California's getting emptied out fast, and while one part of it is definitely their inability to build housing, I think the driving factor is more so the cost of living + remote work. If you're able to get a salaried job and not have to pay $5/gallon, why not move?