1. DATA SNAPSHOT
LaGrange 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 LaGrange County

4. Introduction
Purpose
This document provides information and data about LaGrange 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 LaGrange County Introduction County Background Established 1832
Seat
LaGrange
Area
387 sq. mi.
Neighboring
Counties
Branch, MI
DeKalb, IN
Elkhart, IN
Noble, IN
St. Joseph, MI
Steuben, IN
Metropolitan Status
Non-metro
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 increase by 2 percent between and 2020.
2000
2010
2014
2020
The county’s total population increased by 10 percent between 2000 and Natural increase (births minus deaths over that span of time) was the major contributor to that expansion, with a gain of more than 6,700 persons.
International migration also increased by 478 individuals, indicating that the county experienced an influx of new people from outside the United States. In contrast, domestic migration (the difference between the number of people moving into the county versus moving out) resulted in a loss of 3,397 individuals in LaGrange County between and 2014.
Components of Population Change,
Total Change
3,716*
Natural Increase
6,833
International Migration
478
Domestic Migration
-3,397
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 49.4% of the population was female in 2000 (17,228 people) and that percentage remained about the same in What did change is the distribution of people across the various age categories. A larger share of people shifted into the higher age groupings over the 2000 to 2014 time period.
People 50 and over increased from 23.9% to 29.1% from 2000 to 2014, and individuals of prime working age (20 to 49) dipped from 38.9% to 34.7% of the population. Residents under 20 years of age comprised 36.2% of the total population in 2014, making them a larger proportion of the population than those of prime working age.
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 LaGrange County nearly doubled between and 2014, although they remain a small part of the overall population.
Every race experienced a numerical increase over the time period. Of the non-White races, the Black (+99) population gained the most.
The Black (+134 percent) and Native* American (+91 percent) populations had the largest percentage growth. The White population increased by 3,367 residents between and 2014, experiencing the smallest percentage gain (+10 percent).
Despite the growth of the non-White population, in 2014 White residents still represented 98 percent of the county’s total population.
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. 3% 4% Ethnicity Demography
Hispanic
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 1,092 Hispanics residing in LaGrange County in This figure expanded to 1,509 by 2014, a 38.2 percent increase.
Due to this numeric increase, the proportion of Hispanics in the population is now hovers around the 4 percent mark. 3%
Hispanic 4%
section 02
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2014 Annual Population Estimates

11. Educational attainment
Demography
Educational attainment
LaGrange County had a 3 percentage point increase in the number of adults (25 and older) with an associate’s, bachelor’s or graduate degree between and 2013.
The proportion of adults 25 years of age and older with a high school education or more improved from 60 percent in 2000 to 62 percent by Those with a high school degree only fell slightly from 34 percent in 2000 to 31 percent in 2013.
Adults with a college degree increased from 12 percent in 2000 to 15 percent in This was due to a 2 percentage point increase in the proportion of residents with associate’s degrees (3 percent versus 5 percent), while the proportion of adults with at least a bachelor's degree increased from 9 percent to 10 percent, a 1 percentage point growth. .
2000
2013
section 02
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2013 ACS

12. Demography
The educational attainment of adults 25 and over has improved since 2000, but the percentage of adults with a high school education only (31 percent) or less (38 percent) remains sizable. Taking time to assess whether local economic development opportunities might be impeded by the presence of a sizable number of adults with a terminal high school degree or less may be worthy of attention. While 15 percent of adult residents of the county have an associate’s, bachelor’s or higher degree, this figure is 16 percentage points below the figure for the state of Indiana as a whole in 2013.
The impact of the county’s large Amish community on the demographics of LaGrange County is evident in the large youth population and low levels of educational attainment.
LaGrange County may wish to assess the workforce skills of workers with a high school education only. Making sure these skills are in alignment with the needs of local businesses and industries may be worth exploring.
Takeaways
The population of LaGrange County is expected to grow over the next few years, and if past trends hold, that increase will be largely due to natural increase (more births than deaths).
LaGrange County’s age structure suggests that a larger share of residents are in older age brackets than in The number of persons 50 years of age or older increased by over 5 percentage points between 2000 and On the other hand, the proportion of adults of prime working age (20 to 49 years old) and youth under 20 years of age has declined. Despite this, more than 36 percent of the county’s population was less than 20 years of age in As such, the challenge for the county is how to invest in programs and services that meet the needs of a sizable youth population as well as those of a growing senior population.
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 LaGrange County increased by 90 percent from to 2011.
The rapid growth of establishments was largely due to natural change. Between 2000 and 2011, 2,545 establishments were launched in the county, while 1,275 closed, resulting in a gain of 1,301 establishments. There was also a small gain of 31 establishments due to net migration.
An establishment is a physical business location. Branches, stand-alones and headquarters are all considered types of establishments.
Definition of Company Stages
Components of Change for Establishments
Total Change ( )
1,301
Natural Change (births minus deaths)
1,270
Net Migration 31
Self-employed
2-9 employees 3
10-99
employees
employees 4
500+
employees
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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
399
27%
965
35%
Stage 1
824
57%
1,573
Stage 2
202
14%
195 7%
Stage 3 24 2% 19 1%
Stage 4 4 0% 2*
Total
1,453
100%
2,754
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 one Stage 4 firm in 2011, whereas NETS shows two 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.
Champion Home Builders, Inc.
Stage 4 2.
Nishikawa Cooper, LLC
Stage 3 3.
K-Z, Inc.* 4.
Lakepark Industries–Indiana* 5.
Open Range RV Company*
The top five employers produce mainly national and global goods and services.
Champion Home Builders in Topeka, also known as Redman Homes, is the largest establishment-level employer in LaGrange County.
The top employers in LaGrange County are primarily engaged in manufacturing prefabricated homes, recreational vehicles and vehicle parts that are sold throughout the nation and world.
Information on the top five 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 processes 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.
*These three companies have the same number of employees, according to ReferenceUSA, and were, therefore, listed alphabetically.
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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
399 3%
965 6%
Stage 1
2,979
19%
4,652
28%
Stage 2
5,270
33%
5,295
32%
Stage 3
4,696
30%
4,444
27%
Stage 4
2,472
16%
1,100 7%
Total
15,816
100%
16,456
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
$44,596,685 2%
$64,619,869 4%
Stage 1
$427,321,636
19%
$387,508,972
21%
Stage 2
$560,683,247
25%
$621,769,820
34%
Stage 3
$802,078,749
36%
$422,145,591
23%
Stage 4
$395,356,315
18%
$326,744,000
Total
$2,230,036,632
100%
$1,822,788,252
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
68.2 percent of jobs are tied to one of the top five industries in LaGrange County.
Manufacturing is the largest industry sector (6,576 jobs). Accommodation & Food Services is the smallest of the top industry sectors with 1,155 jobs.
Of the top five industries in LaGrange County, Accommodation & Food Services (+31.3 percent) and Manufacturing (+7.1 percent) gained jobs between 2002 and Of the remaining top five industries, Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, & Hunting lost the most, with a 20.1 percent decrease in jobs.
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
1,997
1,595
-402
-20%
$35,646 21
Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction
<10 - 22
Utilities 35 68 33
94%
$100,499 23
Construction
974
937
-37
-4%
$29,567
31-33
Manufacturing
6,142
6,576
434 7%
$57,059 42
Wholesale Trade
588
743
155
26%
$26,988
44-45
Retail Trade
1,719
1,593
-126
-7%
$27,775
48-49
Transportation & Warehousing
360
454 94
$33,830 51
Information 65
-32
-49%
$87,913 52
Finance & Insurance
275
366 91
33%
$47,113 53
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing
241
373
132
55%
$20,277 54
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
294
332 38
13%
$31,633 55
Management of Companies and Enterprises 29
-24
-45%
$60,972 56
Administrative & Waste Management
180
285
105
58%
$21,055 61
Educational Services (Private)
253
219
-34
-13%
$13,857 62
Health Care & Social Assistance
715
933
218
30%
$35,307 71
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 83 87 4 5%
$14,833 72
Accommodation and Food Services
880
1,155
31%
$13,989 81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
841
913 9%
$22,629 90
Government
1,564
1,476
-88
-6%
$43,426 99
Unclassified Industry 0% $0
All
Total
17,263
18,168
905
$40,213
section 03
Note: Average total earnings include wages, salaries, supplements and earnings from Industries and occupations with a value of <10 have insufficient data for change and earnings calculations.
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 LaGrange County occurred in:
Utilities (+94.3 percent)
Administrative, Support, Waste Management, and Remediation Services (+58.3 percent)
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing (+54.8 percent)
The largest percentage losses in employment occurred in:
Information (-49.2 percent)
Management (-45.3 percent)
Employment Increase
Employment Decrease
Industries with the largest gains and losses in employment numbers between 2002 & 2014:
Manufacturing (+434)
Accommodation & Food Services (+275)
Health Care & Social Assistance (+218)
Agriculture & Forestry (-402)
Retail Trade (-126)
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 LaGrange County represent percent of all jobs.
Production (4,673 jobs) is the top occupation classification in LaGrange County. Transportation & Material Moving is the smallest of the top five occupations with 1,270 jobs.
All five top occupations in LaGrange County, with the exception of Management (-5.9 percent), had a growth in jobs between 2002 and Production occupations gained the largest proportion (+12.9 percent), while Transportation & Material Moving occupations gained the least with an ever so slight increase of 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
2,193
2,063
-130
-6%
$20.08 13
Business & Financial Operations
387
439 52
13%
$24.10 15
Computer & Mathematical 78 81 3 4%
$24.97 17
Architecture & Engineering
213
188
-25
-12%
$28.37 19
Life, Physical & Social Science 35 39 4
11%
$22.76 21
Community & Social Service
112 0%
$18.00 23
Legal 50 32
-18
-36%
$35.91 25
Education, Training & Library
831
815
-16
-2%
$18.40 27
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media
249
262 5%
$15.53 29
Health Care Practitioners & Technical
287
375 88
31%
$26.80 31
Health Care Support
178
240 62
35%
$11.17 33
Protective Service
137
115
-22
-16%
$18.32
Food Preparation & Serving Related
852
1,049
197
23%
$9.29 37
Building & Grounds Cleaning Maintenance
349
425 76
22%
$9.71
Personal Care & Service
483
580 97
20%
$10.18 41
Sales & Related
1,724
1,844
120 7%
$14.79 43
Office & Administrative Support
1,570
1,629 59
$13.79 45
Farming, Fishing & Forestry
424
277
-147
-35%
$12.47 47
Construction & Extraction
942
814
-128
-14%
$15.01 49
Installation, Maintenance & Repair
594
682
15%
$18.69 51
Production
4,140
4,673
533
$16.18 53
Transportation & Material Moving
1,264
1,270 6
$14.73 55
Military
118 2 2%
$19.24 99
Unclassified -6
-11%
$17.91
All
Total
17,263
18,168
905
$16.11
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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 LaGrange County occurred in:
Healthcare Support (+34.8 percent)
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical (+30.7percent)
The largest percentage loss in employment occurred in:
Legal (-36.0 percent)
Farming, Fishing and Forestry (-34.7 percent)
Occupations with the largest gains and losses in employment numbers between 2002 & 2014:
Production (+533)
Food Preparation & Serving (+197)
Farming, Fishing & Forestry (-147)
Management (-130)
Construction & Extraction (-128)
Employment Increase
Employment Decrease
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
7.9%
10.2%
12.7%
Minors (up to age 17) in Poverty
11.2%
16.6%
19.3%
Real Median Household Income (2013)*
$55,104
$54,935
$51,810
Real Per Capita Income (2013)*
$25,919
$25,021
$27,627
The median household income in LaGrange County dipped by $3,300 between 2003 and in real dollars (that is, adjusted for inflation), while average income per person rose by $1,700 (in real dollars) over the same time period.
The total population in poverty grew by 4.8 percentage points between and However, the number of minors in poverty increased by nearly twice that amount. As a result, nearly one in five minors was living in poverty in
*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.
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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 LaGrange County generally decreased between 2000 and 2011, but it is now improving. Per capita income has been gradually increasing since Poverty rates for adults and minors have stabilized since 2011, although the rates remain sizeable.
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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
The fluctuation and 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 Information and moderate-paying Management industry jobs (yearly earnings of $88,000 and $60,000, respectively) declined, while moderate and low- paying industries, such as Manufacturing ($57,000) and Accommodation & Food Services ($14,000), grew in LaGrange County. Occupations showed the same trend in that high-paying Legal jobs ($36 per hour) and moderate-paying Management and Construction jobs ($15 to $20 per hour) were lost while moderate-paying Production ($16 per hour) and low-paying Food Preparation ($9 per hour) jobs experienced gains. No doubt, the ability of LaGrange 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 the key industries in the county will be important to the economic stability of the county.
Takeaways
Growth in the number of establishments in LaGrange County occurred mainly 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.
LaGrange 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, although these sales have suffered in recent years.
Real median income has decreased and poverty has increased in LaGrange County since While poverty rates for minors and the total population have stabilized since 2011, they remain higher than in As of 2013, nearly 20 percent of minors were living in poverty, higher than the poverty rate for the population as a whole.
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28. 04 labor market Labor force and unemployment Workforce inflow/outflow
Commuter shed
Labor shed
Takeaways 04
labor
market

29. Labor force and unemployment
Labor market
Labor force and unemployment
2002
2007
2014
Labor Force
16,587
17,028
18,154
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
4.9%
4.5%
The labor force in LaGrange County increased by 9.5 percent between and 2014.
This increase may be due to the county’s growing along with the return to the workforce of residents who had given up looking for jobs during the Great Recession and are now gainfully employed. The improved economic climate of the county has resulted in a decline of its unemployment rate.
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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 17.4 percent in Since that time, the rate has been on a steady decline, dipping to 4.5 percent by 2014.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Local Area Unemployment Statistics (2014 Annual Data Release)

31. Workforce inflow and outflow in 2013
Labor market
Workforce inflow and outflow in 2013
LaGrange 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 4,413 commuters. The resulting situation is that for every 100 employed residents, LaGrange County has 72 jobs.
Count
Proportion
Employed in LaGrange County
11,562
100%
Both employed and living in the county
5,657
49%
Employed in the county but living outside
5,905
51%
Living in LaGrange County
15,975
Both living and employed in the county
35%
Living in the county but employed outside
10,318
65%
5,905
10,318
5,657
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

32. Commuter shed Labor market Same Work/ Out-Commuters Home
A county’s commuter shed is the geographic area to which its resident labor force travels to work.
Sixty-five percent of employed residents in LaGrange County commute to jobs located outside of the county. Elkhart County is the biggest destination for residents who work outside of LaGrange County.
Thirty-seven percent of out-commuters work in counties adjacent to LaGrange County. However, the second and fifth largest work destinations outside of LaGrange County are the Fort Wayne (Allen County) and the Indianapolis (Marion County) metropolitan areas, respectively.
10,318
5,657
Commuters
Proportion
Elkhart, IN
3,491
21.9%
Allen, IN
1,155
7.2%
Noble, IN
906
5.7%
Steuben, IN
544
3.4%
Marion, IN
513
3.2%
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)

33. Commuter shed in 2013 Labor market
Seventy-five percent of LaGrange County’s working residents are employed either in Allen, Elkhart, LaGrange, Noble or Steuben Counties in Indiana. Another 5 percent commute to Marion County in Indiana or St. Joseph County in Michigan. An additional 5 percent travel to jobs in DeKalb, Kosciusko or Lake Counties in Indiana.
Collectively, these 10 counties represent 85 percent of the commuter shed for LaGrange County.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

34. Labor shed Labor market Same Work/ In-Commuters Home
A county’s labor shed is the geographic area from which it draws employees.
Fifty-one percent of individuals working in LaGrange County commute from another county.
Thirty-seven percent of in-commuters reside in counties adjacent to LaGrange County, and the two largest sources of workers outside of LaGrange County are the adjacent Elkhart and Noble Counties. The fifth largest source of employees outside of LaGrange County is the Fort Wayne (Allen County) metropolitan area.
5,905
5,657
Commuters
Proportion
Elkhart, IN
1,584
13.7%
Noble, IN
1,119
9.7%
St. Joseph, IN
792
6.9%
Steuben, IN
498
4.3%
Allen, IN
242
2.1%
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)

35. Labor shed in 2013 Labor market
The bulk (75 percent) of LaGrange County’s workforce is drawn from LaGrange, Elkhart or Noble Counties in Indiana. Another 5 percent is drawn from St. Joseph County in Michigan. An additional 5 percent reside in Steuben County in Indiana.
Combined, these 5 counties represent 85 percent of LaGrange County’s labor shed.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

36. Takeaways Labor market
Approximately two-thirds of LaGrange County residents in the workforce are gainfully employed outside of the county. This constitutes a sizeable loss of human talent that may be unavailable to contribute to the social and economic vitality of the county. It may be worthwhile for local leaders and industries to determine the human capital attributes of workers who commute to jobs outside the county. By so doing, they could be positioned to determine how best to reduce the leakage of educated and skilled workers to surrounding counties. Of course, this will require expansion of good paying jobs that will help keep these workers in their home county.
In light of the labor shed and commuter shed data showing a strong linkage to surrounding counties for jobs and labor, it may make sense for the county to partner with surrounding counties to pursue economic and workforce development strategies at the regional (multi-county) level.
Takeaways
The Great Recession that impacted the U.S. economy between 2007 and 2009 took a major toll on LaGrange County’s unemployment rate. While the rate was quite low in 2000, it increased more than sevenfold to 17.4 percent by Recent figures make it clear that the unemployment rate has improved significantly since 2009.
Along with the increase in the population over the past decade or more, the county’s labor force has grown since This may be a natural increase due to population growth or due to previously discouraged workers in the county reentering the labor market and finding jobs. Despite a larger labor force, the unemployment rate fell slightly between 2002 and 2014 to percent.
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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 commuter shed and labor shed 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
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educational programs, services, activities, and facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability or status as a veteran. Purdue University is an Affirmative Action institution. This material may be available in alternative formats.

39. FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact
Steven Engleking
Ag and Natural Resources and Community Development
Extension Educator
PCRD
1341 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47906
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. OR
Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) seeks to pioneer new ideas and strategies that contribute to regional collaboration, innovation and prosperity.