Early LAEDC findings
Empty Sets
What happens to California if Paramount packs up and leaves? An independent analysis from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation puts numbers on it — and the numbers are staggering.
28,990 – 57,980
permanent California jobs lost across all industries once Paramount fully relocates
$10.6B – $21.2B
in annual statewide economic output lost once the relocation is complete
Three scenarios. One clear warning.
Exhibit 1 — If production stays
The upside is real, but modest
Paramount's post-merger commitment of 30 features a year for three years would generate between 1,020 and 2,760 job-years in California across all industries, and between $377.7 million and $1.01 billion in economic output.
That works out to 340 to 920 job-years and $125.9 million to $337.2 million in statewide economic output each year for three years.
Exhibit 2 — If operations start leaving
The losses begin immediately
At a minimum, relocating Paramount's headquarters and other operations out of California would cost between 2,750 and 5,550 job-years across all industries and between $1.01 billion and $2.03 billion in economic output.
This conservatively assumes Paramount cuts California spending enough to recoup nearly $1.9 billion in estimated ticking fees — 550 to 1,110 job-years and $202.7 million to $405.4 million in lost statewide output each year for five years.
Exhibit 3 — If the move is completed
The damage becomes permanent
Once Paramount completes the relocation of its headquarters and other operations out of California, the state would lose approximately 28,990 to 57,980 permanent jobs statewide across all industries.
Along with them: between $10.6 billion and $21.2 billion in annual economic output — every year, indefinitely.
Source: preliminary findings from the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. Job-years represent one year of full-time work for one person.
This didn’t start with Paramount
California’s entertainment workforce has already been shrinking for years. A relocation of this size lands on an industry that has lost close to a third of its jobs.
29.6%
decline in California Film, TV & Sound employment since late 2022 — nearly one in three jobs, gone.
Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, April 2026
114,000
California creative-economy jobs lost since late 2022, from roughly 848,000 down to 734,000 — a 14% drop.
Otis College Report on the Creative Economy, April 2026
42%
fewer LA County shooting days in 2024 than in 2022. On-location production fell another 16.1% in 2025.
Otis College; FilmLA
-27.7%
year-over-year drop in LA television production in Q2 2026, with overall on-location production down 12.7%. This is still happening right now.
FilmLA, Q2 2026
The other side of the equation
When productions stay, Californians work.
In its first year, California’s expanded film tax-credit program approved 170 projects expected to deliver:
34,921
cast & crew jobs
$6.6B
in California production spending
$2.58B
in qualified wages
6,630
California filming days
Source: California Film Commission, first-year results of the expanded film & television tax credit program.
A few hundred jobs gained. Tens of thousands at risk.
No production commitment comes close to replacing what California loses if Paramount walks away.
Don’t let another set go dark.
Tell Attorney General Bonta: come to the table
Add your name and stand with California’s entertainment workers, families, and small businesses. Negotiate an agreement that protects jobs and keeps production here.
© 2026 Neighbors for Strong Communities.