Californians may see a strong economy in 2022, but the possibility of a recession in 2023 lingers, President Emeritus and Economist James Doti said during Chapman University’s 44th annual economic forecast on Dec. 14. As pandemic restrictions for businesses dwindle, California anticipates job growth of 4.2 percent in 2022 in comparison to 3.5 percent nationwide, according to Doti. With the state economy bouncing back from COVID-19 job losses witnessed in 2020, 17.2 million jobs would be generated by the end of 2022, slightly below the 17.7 million jobs pre-recession, according to Doti. The growth of international Pacific Rim trade is leading to an increase in employment opportunities as goods are being exported at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. For instance, U.S. imports from China increased by $303 billion, or 19 percent, from Sept. 2020 to Sept. 2021. As for Orange County, the future is bright as job growth …