News Media Coverage: Valley Vision Poll Finds Housing, Childcare, AI Readiness Shaping Economic Mobility Across Capital Region
Author: Chris Campbell, Sacramento Business Journal
May 15, 2026 – Housing affordability, access to childcare, transportation safety and artificial intelligence preparedness are increasingly shaping whether Sacramento-area residents can fully participate in the regional economy, according to the new Economic Mobility Poll released by Valley Vision.
Valley Vision is a Sacramento-based civic leadership organization focused on regional economic development, workforce, land use and quality-of-life issues across the capital region.
The report, produced in partnership with California State University Sacramento’s Institute for Social Research, surveyed 1,118 residents across Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, Placer, Sutter and Yuba counties in September and October 2025 about barriers to economic mobility.
The findings point to mounting concerns around the cost of housing, the affordability of childcare and uneven workforce preparation for AI-driven changes already reshaping industries and hiring needs.
Valley Vision CEO Evan Schmidt said the poll is intended to help policymakers, employers and economic development leaders better understand how interconnected those issues have become.
“An important piece of our work on We Prosper Together, part of the state’s California Jobs First program, was to work with thousands of residents on local strategies to advance equitable economic prosperity,” Schmidt said in an interview. “Several priorities came to the surface: attainable and affordable housing, reliable transportation, access to quality childcare and accessible career opportunities.”
Read the rest of the article at the Sacramento Business Journal: https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2026/05/15/valley-vision-economic-mobility-findings.html
