1. DATA SNAPSHOT
Howard County
Data SnapShot Series 1.1 October 2015

2. 01 03 02 04 Table of contents Introduction Economy Demography
Labor Market

3. 01
introduction
Purpose
About Howard County

4. Introduction
Purpose
This document provides information and data about Howard County that can be used to guide local decision- making activities.
The Data SnapShot showcases a variety of demographic, economic and labor market information that local leaders, community organizations and others can use to gain a better perspective on current conditions and opportunities in their county.
To strengthen the value and usability of the information, we showcase the data using a variety of visual tools, such as charts, graphs and tables. In addition, we offer key points about the data as a way of assisting the user with the interpretation of the information presented.
Finally, short takeaway messages are offered at the end of each section in order to highlight some of the more salient findings.
section 01

5. About Howard County Introduction County Background Established 1844
Seat
Kokomo
Area
294 sq. mi.
Neighboring
Counties
Carroll, IN
Cass, IN
Clinton, IN
Grant, IN
Miami, IN
Tipton, IN
Metropolitan Status
Metropolitan
section 01

6. 02 demography Population change Population pyramids Race Ethnicity
Educational attainment
Takeaways 02
demography

7. Population change 2000 2010 2014 2020 Total population projections
Demography
Population change
Total population projections
The total population is projected to decrease by 2 percent between and 2020.
2000
2010
2014
2020
The county’s total population decreased by 2 percent between 2000 and Domestic migration, the difference between the number of people moving into the county versus moving out, was the largest contributor to that contraction, with a loss of 5,429 persons.
Natural increase, births minus deaths over that span of time, was the second strongest influence on population change in Howard County, resulting in an increase of 3,013 individuals. International migration also offset the negative domestic migration with a gain of 944 individuals to the county from outside the United States between 2000 and
Components of Population Change,
Total Change
-1,912*
Natural Increase
3,013
International Migration
944
Domestic Migration
-5,429
section 02
*Total change in population differs from the sum of the components due to Census estimation techniques. Residuals (not reported here) make up the difference.
Sources: STATSIndiana, U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census, 2010 Decennial Census, 2014 Estimates, Estimates of the Components of Resident Population Change

8. Demography
Population pyramids Population pyramids are visual representations of the age distribution of the population by gender.
2000
2014
Male
Female
Male
Female
Approximately 51.6 % of the population was female in 2000 (43,875 people) and that percentage remained the same in However, a drastic change occurred in the distribution of people across the various age categories. A larger share of people shifted into the higher age groupings between 2000 and 2014.
People 50 and over increased from 13.7% to 17.9% for males and from 16.9% to 21.3% for females between 2000 and Individuals of prime working age (20 to 49) dipped from 20.3% to 17.6% for males and from 21.0% to 18.1% for females. Residents under 20 years of age decreased from 28.0% to 25.1% of the total population.
section 02
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2014 Annual Population Estimates

9. Demography
Race
2000
The proportion of non-White residents in Howard County increased by 20 percent between 2000 and 2014.
Every non-White race experienced a numerical increase over the time period. The county had the most growth in individuals identifying themselves as Two or More Races (+1,091) or Black (+398). Proportionally, Two or More Races also gained the most, with a percent increase, distantly followed by Native* with an 11.9 percent increase.
The White population decreased by 3,557 residents between 2000 and 2014, an decline of only 4.6 percent.
2014
*Native includes American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders.
section 02
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2014 Annual Population Estimates

10. 2% 3% Ethnicity Demography
Hispanics
Hispanics are individuals of any race whose ancestry is from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain, the Dominican Republic or any other Spanish- speaking Central or South American country.
There were 1,709 Hispanics residing in Howard County in This figure expanded to 2,586 by 2014, a 51.3 percent increase.
Due to this numeric increase, the proportion of Hispanics in the population is now around 3 percent. 2%
Hispanics 3%
section 02
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2014 Annual Population Estimates

11. Educational attainment
Demography
Educational attainment
Howard County had a 3 percentage point increase in the number of adults (25 and older) with an associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree from 2000 to 2013.
The proportion of adults 25 years of age and older with a high school education or more improved from 83 percent in 2000 to 89 percent by Those with only a high school degree remained steady at 38 percent in 2000 and 2013.
Adults with a college degree increased from 24 percent in 2000 to 27 percent in This was due to a 1 percentage point increase in the proportion of residents with associate’s degrees (6 percent versus 7 percent), while the proportion of adults with at least a bachelor's degree increased from 18 percent to 20 percent, a 2 percentage point growth. .
2000
2013
section 02
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2013 ACS

12. Demography
Takeaways
The population of Howard County is expected to continue to fall gradually over the next few years. If past trends hold, that decrease will be the result of domestic migration, despite significant population gains due to natural increase.
Howard County’s population aged between and 2014, and the largest age group of workers in 2014 (50 to 59 years of age) is nearing retirement age. Additionally, the number of men and women of prime working age (20 to 49 years of age) also shrank between 2000 and This drop is possibly due to out-migration of people looking for job opportunities in other locations.
The racial and ethnic diversity of Howard County has modestly increased since 2000, but the county remains primarily white and non-Hispanic.
The educational attainment of adults 25 years of age and over has improved since The percentage of adults with a high school education or less (49 percent) is now less than half of the county’s population due to decreases in the number of residents without a high school education. While the number of adults with a associate’s, bachelor’s or higher degree has continued to grow (27 percent), it is still 5 percentage points below the figure for the state of Indiana as a whole.
Howard County may wish to assess the workforce skills of workers with a high school education only. Enhancing their skills so that they match the needs of local businesses and industries may be a worthy investment.
Comparison Notes:
Only Boone, Hamilton, and Monroe Counties have higher numbers of bachelor’s graduates ( ACS)
Only Lake, LaPorte, Howard, Marion, and Allen counties have more racial minorities (2013 PEP)
Marion, Clinton, Cass, Marshall, Noble, Elkhart, Porter, and Lake have more Hispanics (2013 (PEP)
Highest proportion of foreign-born in the state ( ACS)
section 02

13. 03 economy Establishments Industries Occupations Income and poverty
Takeaways 03
economy

14. 0 1 3 4 Establishments Definition of Company Stages Economy
The number of establishments in Howard County increased 67 percent between and 2011.
The rapid growth of establishments was largely due to natural change. That is, 5,801 establishments were launched in the county between 2000 and , while 3,507 closed, resulting in a gain of 2,309 establishments. There was a gain of 15 establishments due to net migration.
An establishment is a physical business location. Branches, standalones and headquarters are all considered types of establishments.
Definition of Company Stages
Self-employed
2-9 employees
Components of Change for Establishments
Total Change ( )
2,309
Natural Change (births minus deaths)
2,294
Net Migration 15 3
10-99
employees
employees 4
500+
employees
section 03
Note: The 2011 figures use 2012 data to include all gains and losses over the entire year. Establishment information was calculated in-house and may differ slightly from publicly available data.
Source: National Establishment Time Series (NETS) – 2012 Database

15. Number of establishments by stage/employment category
Economy
Number of establishments by stage/employment category
2000
2011
Stage
Establishments
Proportion
Stage 0
860
25%
1,734
30%
Stage 1
1,887
55%
3,363
59%
Stage 2
622
18%
590
10%
Stage 3 51 2% 44 1%
Stage 4 13 0%
11*
Total
3,433
100%
5,742
The NETS Database is derived from the Dun & Bradstreet archival national establishment data, a population of known establishments in the United States that is quality controlled and updated annually. Establishments include both private and public sector business units and range in size from one employee (i.e., sole-proprietors and self-employed) to several thousand employees.
*ReferenceUSA indicates eight Stage 4 firms in 2011 (that also existed in 2015), whereas NETS shows 11 Stage 4 firms. Additional information is available on the next slide.
section 03
Note: The 2011 figures use 2012 data to include all gains and losses over the entire year.
Source: National Establishment Time Series (NETS) – 2012 Database

16. Top five employers in 2015 Economy Establishment Stage1.
Delphi Electronics & Safety
Stage 4 2.
Chrysler Indiana Transmission 3.
Community Howard Regional Health 4.
St. Vincent Kokomo Hospital* 5.
Haynes International, Inc.
The top five employers produce regional and global goods and services.
Delphi Electronics and Safety in Kokomo is the largest establishment-level employer in Howard County. They manufacture automobile safety parts used worldwide.
Chrysler Indiana Transmission and Haynes International supply global goods, specializing in automobile parts and metal alloys, respectively. Finally, Community Howard Regional Health and St. Vincent Kokomo, are regional medical providers.
Information on the top 5 establishments by employment comes from ReferenceUSA. ReferenceUSA is a library database service provided by Infogroup, the company that also supplies the list of major employers for Hoosiers by the Numbers. While both NETS and ReferenceUSA contain establishments, differences in data collection procedures result in discrepancies between the two sources. We use NETS for a broad picture of establishments in the county, while ReferenceUSA is used for studying individual establishments.
section 03
*St. Joseph Hospital was renamed St. Vincent Kokomo Hospital in May 2015
Source: ReferenceUSA (Infogroup)

17. Number of jobs by stage/employment category
Economy
Number of jobs by stage/employment category
2000
2011
Stage
Jobs*
Proportion
Stage 0
860 1%
1,734 3%
Stage 1
7,275
11%
10,495
21%
Stage 2
16,114
24%
14,684
29%
Stage 3
8,796
13%
7,551
15%
Stage 4
33,480
51%
16,461
32%
Total
66,525
100%
50,925
section 03
*Includes both full-time and part-time jobs
Note: The 2011 figures use 2012 data to include all gains and losses over the entire year.
Source: National Establishment Time Series (NETS) – 2012 Database

18. Amount of sales (2011 dollars) by stage/employment category
Economy
Amount of sales (2011 dollars) by stage/employment category
2000
2011
Stage
Sales
Proportion
Stage 0
$114,203,910 1%
$120,658,813 2%
Stage 1
$941,503,168
12%
$792,040,261
Stage 2
$1,847,401,526
23%
$1,211,196,022
18%
Stage 3
$1,231,673,211
16%
$744,694,123
11%
Stage 4
$3,788,777,997
48%
$3,867,641,899
57%
Total
$7,923,559,813
100%
$6,736,231,118
section 03
Note: The 2011 figures use 2012 data to include all gains and losses over the entire year.
Source: National Establishment Time Series (NETS) – 2012 Database

19. Economy
Top five industries in 2014
68.7 percent of jobs are tied to one of the top five industries in Howard County.
Manufacturing is the largest industry sector with 11,896 jobs. Accommodation & Food Services is the smallest of the top five industry sectors with 4,256 jobs.
Of the top industries in Howard County, two gained jobs between 2002 and Of these, Health Care & Social Assistance experienced the largest percentage job growth (+67.8 percent), followed by Accommodation & Food Services ( percent). Manufacturing lost the most, with a 16.9 percent loss in jobs over the time period.
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

20. Industry distribution and change
Economy
Industry distribution and change
NAICS Code
Description
Jobs 2002
Jobs
2014
Change ( )
% Change ( )
Average Total Earnings 2014 11
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
568
619 51 9%
$34,269 21
Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction 35 33 -2
-6%
$118,205 22
Utilities
210
140
-70
-33%
$105,370 23
Construction
2,182
1,610
-572
-26%
$36,549
31-33
Manufacturing
16,580
11,896
-4,684
-28%
$98,543 42
Wholesale Trade
773
1,020
247
32%
$60,601
44-45
Retail Trade
6,482
5,832
-650
-10%
$24,541
48-49
Transportation & Warehousing
754
825 71
$50,456
Information
466
459 -7
-2%
$56,612 52
Finance & Insurance
1,310
1,619
309
24%
$53,551 53
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing
1,196
1,371
175
15%
$25,201 54
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
1,586
1,187
-399
-25%
$39,856 55
Management of Companies and Enterprises 29 4
14%
$50,959 56
Administrative & Waste Management
2,268
2,626
358
16%
$20,535 61
Educational Services (Private)
223
364
141
63%
$16,048 62
Health Care & Social Assistance
3,768
6,322
2,554
68%
$44,186
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
635
610
-25
-4%
$11,713 72
Accommodation and Food Services
3,711
4,256
545
$14,973 81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
3,107
2,949
-158
-5%
$19,131 90
Government
6,481
5,702
-779
-12%
$41,965 99
Unclassified Industry 0% $0
All
Total
52,362
49,472
-2,890
$48,905
section 03
Note: Average total earnings include wages, salaries, supplements and earnings from investments and proprietorships. High mining and utility sector earnings are due to extended proprietors.
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

21. Industry distribution and change
Economy
Industry distribution and change
The largest percentage gains in employment in Howard County occurred in:
Health Care and Social Assistance (+67.8 percent)
Educational Services, private (+63.2 percent)
The largest percentage losses in employment occurred in:*
Utilities (-33.3 percent)
Manufacturing (-28.3 percent)
Employment Increase
Employment Decrease
Industries with the largest gains and losses in employment numbers between 2002 & 2014:
Health Care & Social Assistance (+2,554)
Accommodation & Food Services (+545)
Manufacturing (-4,684)
Government (-779)
Retail Trade (-650)
*The largest percentage loss was technically in the Unclassified Industry category, which experienced a 100 percent loss in jobs.
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

22. Top five occupations in 2014
Economy
Top five occupations in 2014
The top five occupations in Howard County represent percent of all jobs.
Sales & Related (5,998 jobs) is the top occupation classification in Howard County at 12.1 percent. The smallest of these is Transportation & Material Moving occupations with 3,301 jobs.
All five top occupations in Howard County, except Food Preparation & Serving Related (+12.5 percent), had a decrease in jobs between 2002 and Production occupations experienced the largest percentage losses (-30.7 percent), while Transportation & Material Moving occupations lost the least (-6.7 percent) over the time period. Sales & Related occupations stayed almost constant ( percent).
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

23. Occupation distribution and change
Economy
Occupation distribution and change
SOC
Description
Jobs 2002
Jobs 2014
Change ( )
% Change ( )
Hourly Earnings 2014 11
Management
2,953
2,848
-105
-4%
$32.35 13
Business & Financial Operations
1,679
1,674 -5 0%
$23.84 15
Computer & Mathematical
1,312
1,070
-242
-18%
$42.56 17
Architecture & Engineering
2,458
2,002
-456
-19%
$38.05 19
Life, Physical & Social Science
161
168 7 4%
$20.59 21
Community & Social Service
480
591
111
23%
$18.08 23
Legal
178
185
$29.27 25
Education, Training & Library
2,540
2,840
300
12%
$19.82 27
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media
1,024
1,007
-17
-2%
$15.08 29
Health Care Practitioners & Technical
2,308
2,464
156 7%
$29.21 31
Health Care Support
891
1,198
307
34%
$12.50 33
Protective Service
554
$22.76 35
Food Preparation & Serving Related
4,130
4,646
516
$9.17 37
Building & Grounds Cleaning Maintenance
1,211
1,394
183
15%
$9.66 39
Personal Care & Service
1,489
2,099
610
41%
$8.61 41
Sales & Related
6,049
5,998
-51
-1%
$12.11 43
Office & Administrative Support
5,734
5,185
-549
-10%
$14.78 45
Farming, Fishing & Forestry 83
109 26
31%
$10.75 47
Construction & Extraction
2,572
2,038
-534
-21%
$22.40 49
Installation, Maintenance & Repair
2,196
1,915
-281
-13%
$23.07 51
Production
8,273
-2,539
-31%
$16.80 53
Transportation & Material Moving
3,539
3,301
-238
-7%
$12.82 55
Military
281
293 12
$16.79 99
Unclassified
267
160
-107
-40%
$12.15
All
Total
52,362
49,472
-2,890
-6%
$18.23
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

24. Occupation distribution and change
Economy
Occupation distribution and change
The largest percentage gains in employment in Howard County occurred in:
Personal Care and Service (+41.0 percent)
Healthcare Support (+34.5 percent)
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry (+31.3 percent)
The largest percentage loss in employment occurred in:*
Production (-30.7 percent)
Construction and Extraction (-20.8 percent)
Occupations with the largest gains and losses in employment numbers between 2002 & 2014:
Personal Care & Service (+610)
Food Preparation & Serving (+516)
Production (-2,539)
Office & Administrative (-549)
Construction & Extraction (-534)
Employment Increase
Employment Decrease
*Unclassified occupations actually experienced the largest percentage losses in employment at percent, but since this is difficult to classify, it was excluded.
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

25. Income and poverty Economy 2003 2008 2013
Total Population in Poverty
10.3%
13.3%
15.8%
Minors (up to age 17) in Poverty
15.2%
20.5%
24.2%
Real Median Household Income (2013)*
$56,956
$52,766
$45,211
Real Per Capita Income (2013)*
$35,971
$34,657
$34,488
The median household income in Howard County dipped by $11,800 between 2003 and in real dollars (that is, adjusted for inflation), while real income per person fell by $1,500 over the same time period.
The total population in poverty and the number of minors in poverty both grew by around 55 percent between 2000 and Almost one in four minors was living in poverty in 2013.
*Real median household income is the middle income value in the county. Half of the county’s households fall above this line and half below. Real per capita personal income is the average income per person in the county.
section 03
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis – Regional Personal Income Summary

26. Economy
Income and poverty Median household income in Howard County decreased between 2000 and 2011, but the latest figures suggest that it is now improving. Per capita income gradually decreased between 2007 and 2010 but has gradually increased since. Poverty rates for both adults and minors have increased since 2000, peaking in 2006 and However, both have declined in the last year, although the rates remain relatively high in contrast to the figures in 2000.
section 03
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis – Regional Personal Income Summary

27. Economy
Takeaways
The steep decline in real median income experienced between 2000 and 2013 may be tied to employment changes in the county during that time period. High-paying Manufacturing industry jobs (yearly earnings of $99,000) and moderate- paying Production occupations ($17 per hour) declined. Meanwhile, moderate and low-paying industries and occupations, such as Health Care & Social Assistance jobs ($44,000 yearly earnings) and Health Care Support occupations ($13 per hour), grew in Howard County. The largest employment gains were in occupations that pay less than $10 per hour (food, accommodation, and personal care services). The ability of Howard County to capture high-paying jobs will depend on the availability of a well-trained and educated workforce, something that may be challenging in light of the smaller percentage of adults in the county with an associate’s degree or higher. Ensuring that a skilled workforce is available to support key industries in the county will be important to the economic stability of the county.
Growth in the number of establishments in Howard County occurred in businesses having fewer than 10 employees (the self- employed and Stage 1 enterprises), components of the local economy that are often overlooked by local leaders.
Howard County might consider focusing on economic development efforts that seek to strengthen high-growth Stage 1 and 2 establishments, since they employ several people and capture sizable sales.
The decline in real median household income was more than eight times the decrease in real per capita income, and the poverty rate for both minors and the total population increased. This indicates a growing income imbalance in the county since One quarter of minors in Howard County were in poverty by 2013.
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28. 04 labor market Labor force and unemployment Commute shed Labor shed
Workforce inflow/outflow
Takeaways 04
labor
market

29. Labor force and unemployment
Labor market
Labor force and unemployment
The size of the labor force in Howard County fell by 9.2 percent between and 2014.
This decrease could be due to a rise in the number of individuals who have given up looking for a job, who have moved out of the county or who have left the workforce due to retirement. At the same time, there was a percentage point rise in the unemployment rate, indicating that a larger proportion of those in the labor force were without a job than in 2002.
2002
2007
2014
Labor Force
40,867
37,588
37,099
Unemployment Rate
5.8%
5.5%
6.4%
section 04
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Local Area Unemployment Statistics (2014 Annual Data Release)

30. Labor market
Unemployment rate Unemployment increased dramatically after 2007, peaking at 14.8 percent in Since that time, the rate has been on a steady decline, dipping to 6.4 percent by 2014.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Local Area Unemployment Statistics (2014 Annual Data Release)

31. Commute shed Labor market Out-Commuters Same Work/ Home
A county’s commute shed is the geographic area to which its resident labor force travels to work.
Fifty-three percent of employed residents in Howard County commute to jobs located outside of the county. Marion County is the biggest destination for residents who work outside of Howard County.
Thirteen percent of out-commuters work in counties adjacent to Howard County. However, the largest work destination outside of Howard County is the Indianapolis (Marion and Hamilton Counties) metropolitan area. The fifth largest work destination is the Fort Wayne (Allen County) metropolitan area.
18,373
16,076
Commuters
Proportion
Marion, IN
4,016
11.7%
Hamilton, IN
1,918
5.6%
Grant, IN
897
2.6%
Miami, IN
888
Allen, IN
798
2.3%
section 04
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)

32. Commute shed in 2013 Labor market
Seventy-five percent of Howard County’s working residents are employed in Allen, Grant, Hamilton, Howard, Marion, Miami or Tippecanoe Counties in Indiana. Another 5 percent commute to Cass, Clinton or Tipton Counties in Indiana. An additional 5 percent travel to jobs in Boone, Carroll, Delaware, Hendricks or Madison Counties in Indiana.
Collectively, these 15 counties represent 85 percent of the commute shed for Howard County.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

33. Labor shed Labor market Same Work/ In-Commuters Home
A county’s labor shed is the geographic area from which it draws employees.
Forty-eight percent of individuals working in Howard County commute from another county.
Fourteen percent of in-commuters reside in counties adjacent to Howard County, and three of the top five counties in the labor shed are adjacent counties. The largest and third largest of these top sources of labor are in the Indianapolis (Hamilton and Marion Counties) metropolitan area.
15,105
16,076
Commuters
Proportion
Hamilton, IN
1,610
5.2%
Miami, IN
1,555
5.0%
Marion, IN
1,066
3.4%
Cass, IN
1,053
Tipton, IN
881
2.8%
section 04
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)

34. Labor shed in 2013 Labor market
The bulk (75 percent) of Howard County’s workforce is drawn from Cass, Hamilton, Howard, Marion, Miami, Tippecanoe and Tipton Counties in Indiana. Another 5 percent is drawn from Allen, Grant, Madison and Wabash Counties in Indiana. An additional 5 percent reside in Boone, Carroll, Clinton, Delaware, Hendricks, Lake or St. Joseph Counties in Indiana.
Combined, these 18 counties represent 85 percent of Howard County’s labor shed.
section 04
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

35. Workforce inflow and outflow in 2013
Labor market
Workforce inflow and outflow in 2013
Howard County has more laborers traveling out of the county for work than into the county for work.
Net commuting is negative, with a loss of 3,268 commuters. The resulting situation is that for every 100 employed residents, Howard County has 91 jobs.
Count
Proportion
Employed in Howard County
31,181
100%
Both employed and living in the county
16,076
52%
Employed in the county but living outside
15,105
48%
Living in Howard County
34,449
Both living and employed in the county
47%
Living in the county but employed outside
18,373
53%
15,105
18,373
16,076
section 04
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

36. Takeaways Labor market
The Great Recession that impacted the U.S. economy between 2007 and 2009 took a major toll on employment in Howard County. While the unemployment rate was quite low in 2000, it more than quadrupled to 14.8 percent by Recent figures make it clear that the unemployment rate has improved significantly since 2009, now at less than half the peak.
Coinciding with the gradual decrease in population over the past decade or more, the size of the county’s labor force has declined since This may be due to growth in the number of residents that are past retirement age in the county, as well as out-migration. The unemployment rate is also higher than in 2002, possibly because, as a result of the improving economy, an increasing number of unemployed individuals who previously were discouraged workers have reentered the labor market and started looking for a job.
Approximately 53 percent of Howard County residents in the workforce are gainfully employed outside of the county, while 48 percent of individuals employed in Howard County are not county residents. It may be worthwhile for local leaders and industries to determine the human capital attributes of workers who commute to jobs inside and outside the county. By so doing, they could determine whether there is leakage of educated and skilled workers to surrounding counties. Such an analysis will help determine the mix of human capital attributes that are needed to spur the growth of good paying jobs in the county.
The labor shed and commute shed data offer solid evidence of the value of pursuing economic and workforce development on a regional (multi-county) basis.
section 04

37. Notes
OTM (On the Map): OTM, a product of LEHD program, is used in the county snapshot report to develop commuting patterns for a geography from two perspectives: place of residence and place of work. At the highly detailed level of census blocks, some of the data are synthetic to maintain confidentiality of the worker. However, for larger regions mapped at the county level, the commuteshed and laborshed data are fairly reasonable.
OTM includes jobs for a worker employed in the reference as well as previous quarter. Hence, job counts are based on two consecutive quarters (six months) measured at the “beginning of a quarter.” OTM data can differ from commuting patterns developed from state annual income tax returns, which asks a question about “county of residence” and “county of work” on January 1 of the tax-year. OTM can also differ from American Community Survey data, which is based on a sample survey of the resident population.
SAIPE (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates): SAIPE is a U.S. Census Bureau program that provides annual data estimates of income and poverty statistics at various geographic levels. The estimates are used in the administration of federal and state assistance programs. SAIPE utilizes statistical models to estimate data from sample surveys, census enumerations, and administrative records.
LAUS (Local Area Unemployment Statistics): LAUS is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) program that provides monthly and annual labor force, employment and unemployment data by place of residence at various geographic levels. LAUS utilizes statistical models to estimate data values based on household surveys and employer reports. These estimates are updated annually. Annual county- level LAUS estimates do not include seasonal adjustments.
LEHD (Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics): LEHD is a partnership between U.S. Census Bureau and State Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to provide labor market and journey to work data at various geographic levels. LEHD uses Unemployment Insurance earnings data and Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages from DWDs and census administrative records related to individuals and businesses.
NETS (National Establishment Time Series): NETS is an establishment-level database, not a company-level database. This means that each entry is a different physical location, and company-level information must be created by adding the separate establishment components.

38. Report Contributors This report was prepared by the Purdue Center for Regional Development in partnership with Purdue University Extension.
Report Authors
Elizabeth Dobis
Bo Beaulieu, Ph.D.
Data Analysis
Indraneel Kumar, Ph.D.
Ayoung Kim
Report Design
Tyler Wright

39. FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact
Paul Marcellino
County Extension Director
PCRD
Mann Hall, Suite 266
Purdue University
Purdue Extension Community Development (CD) works to strengthen the capacity of local leaders, residents and organizations to work together to develop and sustain strong, vibrant communities.
Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) seeks to pioneer new ideas and strategies that contribute to regional collaboration, innovation and prosperity.