Economic Dashboard

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Demographic Profile

In 2017, the population in Jackson County was 48,571. Between 2005 and 2017, the region’s population was relatively unchanged.

The region has a civilian labor force of 18,243 with a participation rate of 44.9%. Of individuals 25 to 64 in Jackson County, 12.8% have a bachelor’s degree or higher which compares with 31.3% in the nation.

The median household income in Jackson County is $36,944 and the median house value is $94,900.

Employment

In the third quarter of 2019, total employment for Jackson County was 16,323 (based on a four-quarter moving average). Over the year ending in the first quarter of 2019, employment increased 2.8% in the region.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Jackson County was 3.2% as of November 2019. This was an improvement from the previous year’s rate of 4.2%

Wage Trends

The average worker in Jackson County earned annual wages of $35,109 in the third quarter of 2019. Average annual wages per worker increased 3.2% in the region during the preceding four quarters. For comparison purposes, annual average wages were $57,681 in the nation during the third quarter of 2019.

Cost of Living Index

The Cost of Living Index estimates the relative price levels for consumer goods and services. When applied to wages and salaries, the result is a measure of relative purchasing power.  The cost of living is 14.5% lower in Jackson County than the U.S. average.  

Industry Snapshot

The largest sector in Jackson County is Health Care and Social Assistance, employing 3,841 workers. The next-largest sectors in the region are Public Administration (2,207 workers) and Retail Trade (2,064). High location quotients (LQs) indicate sectors in which a region has high concentrations of employment compared to the national average. The sectors with the largest LQs in the region are Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting (LQ = 3.05), Public Administration (2.89), and Health Care and Social Assistance (1.64).

Employment data are derived from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and imputed where necessary. Data are updated through the first quarter of 2019 with preliminary estimates updated to the third quarter of 2019.

Sectors in Jackson County, Florida with the highest average wages per worker are Utilities ($87,659), Management of Companies and Enterprises ($74,895), and Information ($52,141). Regional sectors with the best job growth (or most moderate job losses) over the last 5 years are Manufacturing (+239 jobs), Accommodation and Food Services (+234), and Retail Trade (+79).

The fastest-growing sector in the region is expected to be Construction with a +0.4% year-over-year rate of growth. The strongest forecast by number of jobs over this period is expected for Health Care and Social Assistance (+5 jobs), Construction (+4), and Accommodation and Food Services (+3).

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