California continues to see more folks moving elsewhere in the nation rather than relocating here, a sign the state looks relatively unappealing to others.

Last year, California had 142,932 more residents exit to live in other states than arrive, according to an analysis of a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau, released Wednesday, Nov. 15. This “domestic net outmigration” was the second-largest outflow in the nation behind New York and just ahead of Illinois and New Jersey. And it was up 11 percent (13,699 net departures) vs. 2015.

California’s net outmigration has been ongoing for two-decades-plus. Yet the state’s population continues to grow: By this count, up 108,301 in 2016 — or 0.3 percent — to 38.8 million.

How? Primarily through foreign immigration — 332,197 new residents from other lands in 2016 — and more births than deaths. California’s population-growth challenge — and some folks think we’re crowded enough — is that the state has become a hard sell to folks from elsewhere.

This census data shows how poorly California does at attracting U.S. residents. Yes, 514,758 move-ins from other states last year — virtually unchanged from 2015 — is the third-largest influx among nationally.

However, look at new arrivals to California in terms of the state’s nation-leading population. My trusty spreadsheet tells me last year’s new residents from other states were just 1.33 percent of all Californians — the lowest rate of attraction among all states.

Apparently sun, sand, surf and Silicon Valley isn’t enough to overcome what’s seen by numerous Americans as a congested, high-cost place to live. We draw out-of-staters at roughly half of the nationwide pace, as 2.4 percent of Americans moved across state lines in 2016.

Still, we’re popular with folks from other large and/or high-cost states: New York sent us the most new neighbors last year (40,877) followed by Texas (39,109), Arizona (33,757), Washington (27,973) and Florida (25,354).

Conversely — and surprising to many California critics — the state does relatively well at keeping its residents. Yes, there is no mass exodus from California. Overall departures to other states did rise by 2.2 percent last year, or 13,980, to 657,690 exits. That’s a national high just ahead of New York and Texas.

But on per-capita basis, California’s exits equaled 1.66 percent of the population. And only two states — Michigan and Texas — had a better retention rate.

What states got the most of us? Texas (69,945) was No.1, followed by Arizona (64,756), Washington (51,485), Nevada (45,482) and Oregon (43,804).

You can even argue that limited outbound moves create an economic challenge. It’s a key reason our workforce will slowly shrink as our population ages — unless migration trends reverse. Plus, it keeps homes off the market, making the house hunt even more difficult.

Look, I’m not saying everything is peachy in California.

This migration data is a good example how our high cost of living scares off folks thinking of relocating here from other states. This kind of resistance can hurt California employers seeking the best and brightest to power their companies.

The state’s high retention rate, however, suggests a noteworthy level of satisfaction with California living for those who are here.

Of course, thinking about the much-discussed state housing shortage, one wonders where all the folks scared away would live if they had chosen California as home.