California's Paid Family Leave Gains Awareness in Key Underreached Populations

We’re committed to continuing to boost public awareness about California’s Paid Family Leave program, which most California workers contribute to through mandatory payroll deductions. Our recent six-month outreach and marketing campaign increased public awareness among populations that could truly benefit from the program, including an increase of 15 percent for those with less than a high-school education and of 11 percent for households with incomes under $25,000. Awareness during the campaign increased nearly 4 percent statewide, roughly equal to reaching 1.2 million new Californians.

Overall, we’ve raised statewide Paid Family Leave awareness by 5.4 percent since 2016, and applications have increased 4.2 percent from 2018 to 2022.

We’re very proud to have reached people who need these benefits. Building on the effectiveness of this campaign, the Department is planning another substantial outreach effort beginning in 2024 to support the implementation of Senate Bill 951, which helps lower-wage workers access these vital benefits.