All Economics is Local

Census Bureau Reports Number of U.S. Businesses Declines by Nearly 104,000 in 2008

 U.S. businesses with paid employees lost almost 104,000 establishments in 2008, bringing the total number to 7.6 million. However, the total number of people they employed rose to 121 million, with businesses adding approximately 300,000 employees to their payrolls.

These findings come from County Business Patterns: 2008, which provides the only detailed annual information on the number of establishments, employees, and quarterly and annual payroll for most of the 1,100 industries covered at the national, state and county levels. US Census Bureau

METROPOLITAN AREA EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT -- JUNE 2010

Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 185 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 168 areas, and unchanged in 19 areas. In June, 226 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year decreases in nonfarm payroll employment, 135 reported increases, and 11 had no change. US Bureau of Labor Statistics  PDF

The Best Cities For Working Mothers

Forbes begans with the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S. while working under the notion that "best" means different things to different women. Job opportunities, high earnings potential and a budget-friendly cost of living come into play, not to mention employment rates (ideally high) as well as women's average weekly earnings. But it's also important for moms to look into other factors too, like health care. Forbes

Job Growth in U.S. Metros: July 2010 Employment Analysis

Emerging trends among U.S. metros over the first five months of 2010. Garner Economics

 

 

America's Best Places to Live

These cities -- even now -- boast plenty of jobs, great schools, safe streets, low crime, lots to do, charm, and other features that make a town great for raising a family. CNNMoney

 

County Employment & Wages 2009 4Q

From December 2008 to December 2009, employment declined in 325 of the 334 largest U.S. counties. Trumbull, Ohio, posted the largest percentage decline, with a loss of 8.6 percent over the year, compared with a national job decrease of 4.1 percent.

Average weekly wages for the nation increased by 2.5 percent over the year ending in the fourth quarter of 2009. Among the 334 largest counties, 305 had over-the-year increases in average weekly wages in the fourth quarter. The largest wage gain occurred in Douglas, Colo. US Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

294 OUT OF 337 METRO AREAS LOSE CONSTRUCTION JOBS FROM MAY 2009 TO 2010

Construction employment declined in 294 metropolitan areas between May 2009 and May 2010, increased in 16 metro areas, and held steady in another 27. Eleven metro areas have lost over 10,000 construction jobs each during the past 12 months, while one–in–three cities added 1,000 or more jobs during the same period.

Most jobs were added in Columbus, Ohio while Eau Claire, Wisconsin has the highest rate of job growth; Chico, California has highest rate of decline and Chicago loses the most jobs. Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America

Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment - May 2010

Unemployment rates were higher in May than a year earlier in 222 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 141 areas, and unchanged in 9 areas. Thirteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 9 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in May was 9.3 percent.

In May, 270 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year decreases in nonfarm payroll employment, 95 reported increases, and 7 were unchanged.  The largest over-the-year employment decrease was recorded in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. (-84,300), followed by Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill.-Ind.-Wis. (-75,200), New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa. (-66,200), and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif. (-53,400).

The largest over-the-year increases in employment occurred in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. (+13,200), Honolulu, Hawaii (+4,400), Kokomo, Ind. (+4,100), and Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Texas (+4,000). US Bureau of Labor Statistics

 

America's Recovery Capitals

Analysis and annual growth prospects of employment and economic output for the 25 largest metro areas in each of the four regions of the country--the South, the Midwest, the West and the Northeast. Those that made the list had the best combination of job and ouput growth, equally weighted. Forbes

Census Bureau Reports Nation Has Nearly 350,000 Fewer Nonemployer Business Locations

Nonemployer businesses have no paid employees, have annual business receipts of $1,000 or more ($1 or more in the construction industries) and are subject to federal income taxes.

Among the 50 counties with the largest number of nonemployer establishments, Wayne County, Mich. — home to Detroit — led the nation with a 6.8 percent increase of nonemployer establishments between 2007 and 2008, followed by Harris County, Texas — home to Houston — with a 5.6 percent increase, and Miami-Dade County, Fla., with a 3 percent increase. US Census Bureau

June 2010 — MetroMonitor: Tracking Economic Recession and Recovery in America’s 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas

The U.S. economy’s performance is driven largely by that of its major metropolitan economies. All of those economies saw some economic growth in the first quarter of 2010, and some returned to their pre-recession levels of output, but none recovered its pre-recession employment level. Most continued to lose jobs and experience high unemployment rates. Brookings

Top 10 Metro Areas with Decrease in Unemployment Rates

The top 10 metro areas where the unemployment rate has reduced the most compared to one year earlier EconPost

AP County-Level Economic Stress Index Updated

Associated Press has updated its Economic Stress Index with April 2010 data. The Economic Stress Index measures the relative economic impact of the recession and its recovery by integrating the cumulative effects of three economic indicators: unemployment, foreclosures and bankruptcies. Associated Press

 

15 of 28 U.S. Metros Monitored By Monster.com Register Increase

Online recruitment activity rose in 15 major metropolitan markets, with Orlando registering the largest monthly gain. Although current levels of online job demand in this market remain well below the 2005 and 2006 periods, activity has nonetheless improved consistently over the past year. Monster.com National report (PDF)  Local Reports

Metro Employment Change & Unemployment: April 2010

Unemployment rates were higher in April than a year earlier in 291 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 73 areas, and unchanged in 8 areas. Fourteen areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 8 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. The national unemployment rate in April was 9.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, up from 8.6 percent a year earlier.

In April, 300 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year decreases in non-farm payroll employment, 64 reported increases, and 8 were unchanged. The largest over-the-year employment decrease was recorded in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif. (-111,200). The largest over-the-year increases in employment occurred in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.Va. (+5,800). US Bureau of Labor Statistics

2010 Quality of Life Metro Rankings

Criteria: The study looked for well-rounded metros with healthy economies, light traffic, moderate costs of living, impressive housing stocks, and strong educational systems. Portfolio/bizjournals.com

Kiplinger's Best Cities 2010

Using a formula that identifies cities with current and likely future growth in high-quality jobs and income, also weighed affordability and public-transit infrastructure --plus a measurement of the "creative class." Kiplinger

Metro Occupational Employment and Wages Summary-2009

Retail salespersons, cashiers, general office clerks, combined food preparation and serving workers, and registered nurses were among the occupations with the highest employment in 2009. Occupations with the lowest employment included watch repairers,astronomers, and radio operators.

Wages for the selected occupations varied by metropolitan area. For example, among the metropolitan areas shown, mean wages for cashiers ranged from $7.86 in Anniston-Oxford, Ala., to $10.54 in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, Calif., while wages for team assemblers ranged from $11.68 in Rocky Mount, N.C., to $25.14 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Bureau of Labor Statistics News Release   Metro Details

POLICOM Corporation Releases 2010 Metro Economic Strength Rankings

The rankings do not reflect the latest ‘hotspot’ or boom town, but the areas which have the best economic foundation. While most communities have slowed or declined during this recession, the strongest areas have been able to weather the storm. Policom  Report PDF

Juju.com Releases May 2010 Job Search Difficulty Index for Major Cities

The updated Job Search Difficulty Index measures the difficulty of finding employment in major cities around the country. The Index is calculated by dividing the number of unemployed workers in each metro area, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), by the number of jobs in Juju's  index of millions of online jobs in the United States. Juju.com 

America's Most Livable Cities

Measuring five data points in the country's 200 largest metro areas: unemployment, crime, income growth, the cost of living, and artistic and cultural opportunities.Forbes

Twenty Most Stressed, Least Stressed Counties

The 20 most economically stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 and their March 2010 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index. Yahoo News via the AP Economic Stress Index

Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment - March 2010

Unemployment rates were higher in March than a year earlier in 321 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 41 areas, and unchanged in 10 areas, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Twenty-eight areas recorded jobless rates of at least 15.0 percent, while 3 areas registered rates below 5.0 percent. In March, 322 metropolitan areas reported over-the-year decreases in nonfarm payroll employment, 45 reported increases, and 5 remained unchanged. US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Best And Worst Places For Business And Careers

This year's best places for business and careers form a corridor between the Southeast and the Northwest with clusters in the Great Plains and Intermountain West. California and the Rust Belt dominate the bottom of the list. Forbes

Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment -- February 2010

Unemployment rates were higher in February than a year earlier in 347 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 21 areas, data unchanged in 4 areas. Among the 371 metropolitan areas for which nonfarm payroll employment data were available, 343 areas reported over-the-year decreases in employment, 26 reported increases, and 2 had no change. US Bureau of Labor Statistics

County Employment and Wages 3Q 2009

From September 2008 to September 2009, employment declined in 329 of the 334 largest U.S. counties according to preliminary data. The U.S. average weekly wage fell over the year by 0.1 percent in the third quarter of 2009. This is the first time there has been an over-the-year average weekly wage decline for three consecutive quarters, and this decline is one of only five declines dating back to 1978, when these quarterly data were first comparable. US Bureau Labor Statistics

Best Markets for Young Adults

Portfolio.com/bizjournals analyzed the 67 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations above 750,000, searching for qualities that would appeal to workers in their 20s and early 30s. The methodology gave the highest marks to places with strong growth rates, moderate costs of living, and substantial pools of young adults who are college-educated and employed. Portfolio.com/bizjournals

Tracking Economic Recession in the 100 Largest Metro Areas

The fourth installment of the Metro Monitor series reveals nascent signs of economic recovery, with job growth remaining relatively stagnant. Though some indicators show an upcoming return to robust economic activity, others point to a “double-dip” recession that may further hurt metropolitan areas continuing to suffer effects from the downturn. Brookings

Metropolitan Area Employment & Unemployment -- January 2010

Unemployment rates were higher in January than a year earlier in 363 of the 372 metropolitan areas, lower in 7 areas, and unchanged in 2 areas. In January, among the 371 metropolitan areas for which nonfarm payroll data were available, 346 areas reported over-the-year decreases in non-farm payroll employment, 24 reported increases, and 1 remained unchanged. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Cities Where the Recession Is Easing

In these metro areas, jobs are projected to grow and the housing crisis is stabilizing. D.C. and nine other cities (among them: Boston, Los Angeles and a host of metros in Texas) are best surviving the downturn in part because they specialize in industries that are relatively insulated from economic volatility. Federal and state jobs all but guarantee the health of a local economy, and nowhere is there more government-related work than in Washington. Forbes