California exodus as thousands quit state

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com. By Olga Spilewsky and Conan Nolan, NBCLosAngeles.com About 100,000 more people moved away from California in 2011 than relocated to the Golden State, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau. In recent years, unemployment in the state has skyrocketed, while the cost of living has increased. So, where are these Californians going? The Census Bureau calculated that the most popular destination is Texas, with 58,992 residents relocating there along with a number of California companies. Arizona was next on the list, with 49,635 people moving, then Nevada, Washington, and Oregon. Although in smaller numbers, others are still relocating to the Golden State. Texans make up the largest number of new California residents with 37,387 people, according to the report. That is followed by people from Washington (36,481), Nevada (36,159), Arizona (35,650), and New York (25,269). More news from NBCLosAngeles.com In total, 468,428 people have moved to California from other states, and 269,772 have moved to the state from other countries, according to the Census Bureau. Economic experts are optimistic that California's economy has started picking up steam, and may halt the movement of residents out of the state. "We expect over the next couple of years that we will add jobs," said Robert Kleinhenz, chief economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. "This year, we've added jobs in California at a faster pace than in the nation as a whole. So, we are moving in right direction. As that happens, we'll see the migration numbers turn around some," he added. The agriculture industry, one of the state's largest, has been particularly affected by fewer undocumented immigrants crossing the border, deterred from coming to the U.S. because of high unemployment and a developing middle class in Mexico.