Goods on the Move: Trade and Logistics in Southern California

The Southern California Leadership Council (SCLC), in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), has released a major economic study titled Goods on the Move: Trade and Logistics in Southern California. The report, prepared by LAEDC’s Institute for Applied Economics, offers a comprehensive assessment of the region’s trade and logistics industry—one of the most critical economic engines for California and the nation.

The study emphasizes Southern California’s role as the leading trade gateway in North America and outlines the growing challenges the region faces, including heightened tariffs, increased competition from Gulf and East Coast ports, infrastructure strain, and workforce shortages. It also provides policy recommendations to support sustainable growth, job creation, and long-term competitiveness.

Southern California Key Findings:

• The trade and logistics industry supported nearly 2 million total jobs in 2022, including 902,400 directly employed workers.

• The sector generated $497.6 billion in total economic output and $93.3 billion in tax revenues.

• The average annual wage was $90,600, over 26% higher than the regional average across all industries.

The report underscores that while Southern California’s trade and logistics sector remains a national leader, its future success depends on bold policy action and strategic investment. Strengthening infrastructure, expanding workforce pipelines, and supporting innovation will be key to preserving the region’s competitive edge in an increasingly complex global trade environment.

The executive summary can be found on pages 4 - 6.