1. DATA SNAPSHOT
Boone County
Data SnapShot Series 1.1 January 2017

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

3. 01
introduction
Purpose
About Boone County

4. Introduction
Purpose
This document provides information and data about Boone 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 Boone County Introduction County Background Established 1830
Seat
Lebanon
Area
423 sq. mi.
Classification
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Neighboring
Counties
Clinton, IN
Hamilton, IN
Hendricks, IN
Marion, IN
Montgomery, IN
section 01

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

7. Population change Demography
The county’s total population increased by 37.4 percent between 2000 and The major contributor to that expansion was domestic migration (the difference between the number of people moving into the county versus moving out) causing a net gain of more than 13,500 individuals.
The natural increase (births minus deaths over that period) had a positive growth with births surpassing deaths by more than 3,800 individuals. International migration also had a positive effect on population with a net increase of individuals, indicating that the county experienced a small influx of new people from outside the U.S.
Components of Population Change,
Natural Increase
3,804
International Migration
482
Domestic Migration
13,539
section 02
*Estimation residuals are leading to a total change in population that differs from the sum of the components.
Sources: STATSIndiana, U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census, 2010 Decennial Census, 2015 Estimates, Estimates of the Components of Resident Population Change

8. Migration in Boone, 2000-2015 Demography Inflow Outflow Net Change
Inflow of population outpaced the outflow as people are moving into Boone County from other counties located both inside and outside of Indiana.
Inflow
Outflow
Net Change
Migration (same State)*
40,150
28,934
11,216
Migration (different State)
15,720
13,822
1,898
Migration movement within Indiana or to different states is a sum of year-by-year movements from 2000 to Similar to the Census Bureau’s estimates, the IRS migration data (the data being used in this report) showed overall a net gain for Boone County. The IRS migration database does not capture the entire moving population since not all households file their tax returns on a given year and some households ask for an extension. However, these are the only sources of data on migration that contain information on the origins and destinations of the migrating households. IRS data may not match with the census estimates, as it is one of the three components of the domestic migration. The other two components are changes in Medicare enrollment and the Group Quarter population.
section 02
Source IRS U.S. Migration Database.

9. Demography
Population pyramids Population pyramids are visual representations of the age distribution of the population by gender.
2000
2015
Male
Female
Male
Approximately 51.2 percent of the population was female in 2000 (23,601 individuals) and that percentage slightly dropped to 50.5 percent (31,984) in What did change was the distribution of people across the various age groups. A larger share of people shifted into the higher age groups over the 2000 to 2015 period.
In particular, people 50 and over swelled from 12.4 to 15.4 percent for males and from 15 to 17.4 percent for females between 2000 and Individuals of prime working age years old -- dipped from 20.6 to 18.9 percent or males and from 21.6 to 19.1 percent for females. The percentage of residents under 20 years of age decreased slightly.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2015 Annual Population Estimates

10. Demography
Race
2000
The number of non-White residents in Boone County increased by almost 4 percentage points between 2000 and 2015.
The number of individuals who are Black, Asian, Native, or Two or More Races increased between 2000 and Among them, there were 1,565 Asians in 2015, compared to individuals of Asian race in The proportion increased from 0.5 percent to 2.5 percent over the period. The number of Blacks also increased from to 1,000 individuals. The population composed of two or more races doubled in size across the two time periods, increasing from 460 to individuals.
2015
section 02
Race Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2015 Annual Population Estimates

11. Demography
Ethnicity
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 534 Hispanics residing in Boone County in This figure expanded to 1,726 by 2015, a 223 percentage points increase.
As a result, Hispanics now make up 2.7 percent of the overall population, compared to percent in However, Boone County’s share in Hispanics is lower than Indiana’s state average of 6.7 percent in 2015.
Hispanic
section 02
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2015 Annual Population Estimates

12. Educational attainment
Demography
Educational attainment
Boone County had a 17 percentage points increase between 2000 and 2014 in the proportion of adults (25 and older) with an associate’s, bachelor’s, or graduate degree.
The proportion of adults 25 years of age and older with a high school education or more improved from 88 percent in 2000 to 94 percent by Those with only a high school degree fell from 38 percent in 2000 to 28 percent in 2014.
Adults with an associate’s degree grew by two percentage points from 2000 to 2014 (6 percent versus 8 percent), while the proportion with a bachelor’s degree or more increased significantly from 27 percent to 42 percent over that same period. By 2014, 50 percent of residents in Boone County had a college degree (associates, bachelors or more), far exceeding Indiana’s rate of 32 percent.
2000
2014
section 02
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2014 ACS

13. The educational attainment of adults 25 and over has dramatically increased since 2000 and the percentage of adults with a terminal high school education or less has dropped significantly. This has resulted in a resident labor force in which one in two adult residents have an associate’s, bachelor’s or higher education. As such, the proportion of adults with some type of college education is 18 percentage points higher than the figure for Indiana as a whole.
High domestic in-migration and the healthy growth of people with post-secondary education translates into a county that growing in importance to the Indianapolis metropolitan area, both as an a hub of workforce talent and as residential community.
In order to continue their growth toward a balanced ratio of working-age individuals and dependents (minors and elderly), Boone County should continue to develop the mix of services and amenities that will retain and attract educated adults of all ages. Expanding the number of people with an associate’s degree or higher could propel the county as a key magnet for well paying, higher quality jobs.
Demography
Takeaways
The population of Boone County is expected to grow over the next few years, and if past trends hold, that increase will be due largely to domestic in-migration (more people moving into the county from other counties in Indiana or from other places in the U.S. than those who are moving out).
Boone County’s population also grew over the period. In examining the population composition of Boone County, one finds a growing adult population of 50 and over, from 27.5 percent in 2000 to 32.9 percent in The percentage of young adults (under 20 years old) living in the county decreased from 30.4 percent to percent across the years. Among them, the percentages for males dipped from 15.8 to percent and for females from 14.6 to percent.
While the population remains largely White and non-Hispanic, the racial and ethnic diversity of the county has more than doubled since 2000.
section 02

14. 03 economy Establishments Industries Occupations Income and poverty
Takeaways 03
economy

15. Components of changes in Jobs
Economy
Components of changes in Jobs
How to Interpret the Accompanying Table
New Start-ups: A completely new business from births/openings without any affiliation to an existing business.
Spin- offs: New businesses that were spun off from existing businesses.
Expansions: Existing businesses that have expanded in jobs.
In-migration: Businesses that have moved-in from outside of the county.
Closings: Closure of existing businesses.
Contractions: Existing businesses that have shed/reduced jobs.
Out-migration: Businesses that have moved-out from the county.
Changes in Jobs ( )
Gained by
New Start-ups
15,301
Spin-offs
5,217
Expansion
9,794
In-migration
2,470
Lost by
Closings
17,693
Contractions
6,910
Out-migration
1,481
Net change
6,698
section 03
Source: YourEconomy.org
Note: YourEconomy uses the unique DUNS identifiers to determine new startups and spinoffs.

16. Establishment Distribution by Stages
Economy
Company stages
Stage 3 (1.4%)
Stage 2 (18.2%)
Stage 1 (68.9%)
Self-employed (11.3%)
Stage
4 (0.2%)
An establishment is a physical business location. Branches, stand-alones and headquarters are all considered types of establishments.
Definition of Company Stages
Self-employed
2-9 employees 3
10-99
employees
employees 4
500+
employees
Establishment Distribution by Stages
Indiana, 2015
section 03
Note: Based on Edward Lowe’s research,
Source: Pyramid graphics is courtesy of Nancy Duarte,
Source: YourEconomy.org

17. Number of Boone County establishments by stage/employment category
Economy
Number of Boone County establishments by stage/employment category
2001
2015
Stage
Establishments
Proportion
Stage 0
333
17.1%
281
10.5%
Stage 1
1,266
64.8%
1,900
71.1%
Stage 2
331
16.9%
459
17.2%
Stage 3 23
1.2% 30
1.1%
Stage 4
0.0% 1
N/A
Total
1,953
100%
2,671
section 03
Source: YourEconomy.org

18. Top five employers in 2015 Economy Establishment Stage1.
Amazon Fulfillment Center
Stage 4 2.
Witham Memorial Hospital 3.
Zionsville Meadows
Stage 3 4.
Indiana Fear Farm 5.
Jet Star Inc.
The top five employers are either Stage 3 ( jobs) or Stage 4 ( jobs) establishments.
Amazon Fulfillment Center, located in Whitestown, Indiana, is the top employer in the county followed by the Witham Memorial Hospital.
Zionsville Meadows (an assisted living facility), Indiana Fear Farm (a recreation establishment), and Zet Star Inc., (a trucking company) complete the top five spots.
Information on the top five establishments by employment comes from ReferenceUSA. The 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 YourEconomy for a broad picture of establishments in the county, while ReferenceUSA is used for studying individual establishments.
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Source: ReferenceUSA

19. Number of jobs by stage/employment category
Economy
Number of jobs by stage/employment category
2001
2015
Stage
Jobs
% change
Stage 0
333
281
-16%
Stage 1
4,841
6,948
44%
Stage 2
7,934
10,726
35%
Stage 3
3,707
4,687
26%
Stage 4
500
N/A
Total
16,815
23,142
38%
Explanatory note ( ): The stock-and-flow method to estimate jobs in 2015 by incorporating year-by-year changes could not be implemented for Boone County. The Your Economy website seems to have a major discrepancy in reporting jobs for Stage 4 companies in Boone County. When the data was downloaded during December 2014, the jobs were fixed at 500 jobs for 2014 and On January, the YourEconomy website refreshed the data for Boone County and now Stage 4 jobs are shown as 250 for 2014 and We have informed YourEconomy about the discrepancy.
section 03
Note: Changes in Jobs by stage between 2001 and 2015 may not match with the total change estimated by
components of change in the previous slide due to the raw data issue.
Source: YourEconomy.org

20. Amount of sales (2013 dollars) by stage/employment category
Economy
Amount of sales (2013 dollars) by stage/employment category
($ Million, 2013)
2001
2015
Stage
Sales
% change
Stage 0 88 42
-52%
Stage 1
1,315
1,573
20%
Stage 2
1,578
2,162
37%
Stage 3
762
1,278
68%
Stage 4 70
N/A
Total
3,743
5,125
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Source: YourEconomy.org

21. Economy
Top five industries in 2015
About half of the jobs are tied to one of the top five industries in Boone County.
Retail Trade is the largest industry sector, providing 7,559 jobs in Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services is the smallest of the top industry sectors with more than 2,800 jobs.
All of the top five industries in Boone County gained jobs between 2003 and Among them, Retail Trade had a percentage points growth and Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services had an 110 percentage points growth over the period.
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

22. Industry distribution and change
Economy
Industry distribution and change
NAICS Code
Description
Jobs 2003
Jobs 2015
Change ( )
% Change ( )
Average Total Earnings 2015 11
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting
806
862 56 7%
$35,662 21
Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction
<10 15
Insf. Data
$49,759 22
Utilities
117 71
-46
-39%
$243,098 23
Construction
2,829
2,901 72 3%
$51,074
31-33
Manufacturing
2,235
2,454
219
10%
$54,881 42
Wholesale Trade
893
1,454
561
63%
$63,483
44-45
Retail Trade
2,811
7,559
4,748
169%
$39,196
48-49
Transportation & Warehousing
1,314
2,592
1,278
97%
$41,965 51
Information
214
524
310
145%
$43,962 52
Finance & Insurance
986
1,734
748
76%
$40,259 53
Real Estate & Rental & Leasing
1,346
2,315
969
72%
$32,337 54
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
1,667
2,813
1,146
69%
$48,750 55
Management of Companies and Enterprises 14
149
135
964%
$100,262
Administrative & Waste Management
1,581
3,316
1,735
110%
$28,590 61
Educational Services (Private)
285
776
491
172%
$15,012 62
Health Care & Social Assistance
1,934
2,267
333
17%
$51,952
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
622
885
263
42%
$24,157
Accommodation and Food Services
1,556
2,128
572
37%
$17,036 81
Other Services (except Public Administration)
1,748
2,418
670
38%
$21,275 90
Government
2,747
3,638
891
32%
$54,371
All
Total
25,714
40,871
1,5157
59%
$41,102
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

23. Industry distribution and change
Economy
Industry distribution and change
The largest percentage gains in employment in Boone County occurred in:
Management of Companies and Enterprises (+964 percent)
Educational Services (+172 percent)
The largest percentage losses in employment occurred in:
Utilities (-39 percent)
Employment Increase
Employment Decrease
Industries with the largest gains and losses in employment numbers between 2003 & 2015:
Retail Trade (+4,748)
Administrative and Waste Management (+1,735)
Utilities (-46)
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Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

24. Top five occupations in 2015
Economy
Top five occupations in 2015
The top five occupations in Boone County represent more than half of all jobs.
Sales and Related (5,716 jobs) is the top occupation in Boone County. Business and Financial Operations is the smallest of the top five occupations with 2,554 jobs.
All the top five occupations in Boone County had an increase in jobs between and In particular, Office and Administrative Support occupations gained the most (109 percent), followed closely by Transportation and Material Moving Occupations (107 percent) and Business and Financial Operations Occupations (98 percent), respectively.
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

25. Occupation distribution and change
Economy
Occupation distribution and change
SOC
Description
Jobs 2003
Jobs 2015
Change ( )
% Change ( )
Median Hourly Earnings 2015 11
Management
2,118
3,235
1,117
53%
$28.56 13
Business & Financial Operations
1,293
2,554
1,261
98%
$28.72 15
Computer & Mathematical
320
895
575
180%
$29.31 17
Architecture & Engineering
309
332 23 7%
$31.35 19
Life, Physical & Social Science
148
212 64
43%
$33.88 21
Community & Social Service
315
428
113
36%
$20.80
Legal
151
262
111
74%
$35.08 25
Education, Training & Library
1,050
1,664
614
58%
$18.45 27
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media
994
1,698
704
71%
$17.73 29
Health Care Practitioners & Technical
966
1,491
525
54%
$37.89 31
Health Care Support
434
586
152
35%
$13.64 33
Protective Service
388
505
117
30%
$19.12 35
Food Preparation & Serving Related
1,613
2,271
658
41%
$9.90 37
Building & Grounds Cleaning Maintenance
1,175
1,576
401
34%
$11.22 39
Personal Care & Service
1,213
1,685
472
39%
$11.72 41
Sales & Related
3,774
5,716
1,942
51%
$17.11 43
Office & Administrative Support
2,589
5,405
2,816
109%
$15.89 45
Farming, Fishing & Forestry
184
264 80
$11.68 47
Construction & Extraction
2,031
2,154
123 6%
$20.48 49
Installation, Maintenance & Repair
959
1,361
402
42%
$19.26 51
Production
1,605
2,358
753
47%
$14.19 53
Transportation & Material Moving
1,904
3,941
2,037
107%
$13.76 55
Military
167
205 38
23%
$17.45
All
Total
25,714
40,871
15,157
59%
$18.89
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Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

26. Occupation distribution and change
Economy
Occupation distribution and change
The largest percentage gains in employment in Boone County occurred in:
Computer and Mathematical (+180 percent)
Office and Administrative Support Occupations (+109 percent)
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations (+107 percent)
Occupations with the largest numerical gains in employment between 2003 & 2015:
Office and Administrative Support Occupations (+2,816)
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations (+2,037)
Employment Increase
section 03
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors

27. Income and poverty Economy 2001 2008 2015
Total Population in Poverty
5.2%
6.4%
6.0%
Minors (up to age 17) in Poverty 6%
7.8%
7.4%
Real Household Median Income (2013)*
$69,465
$78,744
$72,544
Real Per Capita Income (2013)*
$49,829
$58,417
$60,422
The median household income in Boone County increased by $3,079 between 2001 and in real dollars (that is, adjusted for inflation), while average income per person rose by $10,593 in real dollars over the same period.
Both the total population in poverty and the number of minors in poverty increased by only about 1 percentage point over the 2001 to period, a trend this is far less than the poverty levels found in many other parts of the state.
*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

28. Economy
Income and poverty Median income in Boone County has experienced significant fluctuation over time, decreasing dramatically after 2008 but recovering since Per capita income today is about what it was in Poverty rates for adults and minors have been fluctuating in the past three years, and the rates are slightly higher than in the early 2000s.
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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

29. Economy
Nearly all industries have experienced solid gains over the 2003 to 2015 period. Leading the pack are jobs in the retail sector, an industry that is paying an average of about $39,000 per year. Also growing are jobs in the administrative and waste management area, positions that provide even lower average earnings that the retail trade sector (offering average earnings of under $29,000). While these annual earnings could be a reason for concern, the county is showing growth in jobs that are providing much higher annual compensation, such as jobs in government, construction, and professional, scientific and technical services. The healthy growth of the county’s economy is a key reason why households have experienced a positive growth in real per capita income in Boone County and why unemployment continues to decline. What may be worth examining is what members of the labor force are being left behind in the current economic environment and what efforts might be needed to ensure these individuals have the skills they need to be successful members of the local workforce in the future. Without question, the economic metrics for Boone County are strong. But, assessing the talent needs of existing firms will be important to ensure that current and emerging workforce have the set of skills needed to meet the growing demands of the diverse mix of industries in the county.
Takeaways
Growth of establishments in Boone County occurred in businesses with 2-99 employees (the Stage 1 and Stage 2 enterprises), components of the local economy that are often overlooked by local leaders. At the same time, moderate growth took place among Stage 3 establishments.
It is important for Boone County to pursue a balanced economic development strategy – one that attends to the needs and growth opportunities associated with Stage 1, 2 and 3 establishments. Stage 1 and 2 establishments have experienced impressive growth over the past several years. Stage 0 enterprises – what is referred to as the self-employed – suffered some declines between 2001 and 2015, slipping from 333 to proprietors. It may be worth assessing what may be contributing to this decline. Could it be that people are less likely to be self-employed when job opportunities are expanding.in the country? Or are there local factors that may be impeding the launch of these type of Stage 0 enterprises?
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30. 04 labor market Labor force and unemployment Commuteshed Laborshed
Workforce inflow/outflow
Takeaways 04
labor
market

31. Labor force and unemployment
Labor market
Labor force and unemployment
The labor force in Boone County increased by 26 percent between and 2015.
The growing number of jobs in the county has expanded the opportunities for people in the labor force to find gainful employment. As a result, the unemployment rate has dropped to percent as of 2015, a rate that many economist would consider to close to full employment for the workforce.
2003
2015
Labor Force
26,153
32,959
Unemployment Rate
4.0%
3.7%
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Local Area Unemployment Statistics (2015 Annual Data Release)

32. Labor market
Unemployment rate Unemployment increased dramatically after 2007, peaking at 7.7 percent in Since that time, the rate has been on a slow but steady decline, dipping to 3.7 as of 2015.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Local Area Unemployment Statistics (2015 Annual Data Release)

33. Workforce inflow and outflow in 2014
Labor market
Workforce inflow and outflow in 2014
Boone County has more workers commuting out of than commuting into the county for work.
Net commuting is negative with a deficit of 5,928 commuters, indicating that Boone County is not operating as the employment hub for the region. In , there were only 7,188 individuals who both lived and employed in the county. For every residents, there were around 80 jobs in the county.
Count
Proportion
Employed in Boone County
24,448
100.00%
Both employed and living in the county
7,188
29.4%
Employed in the county but living outside
17,260
70.6%
Living in Boone County
30,376
Both living and employed in the county
23.7%
Living in the county but employed outside
23,188
76.3%
23,188
7,188
17,260
section 04
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

34. Commuteshed Labor market Same Work/ Out-Commuters Home
A county’s commuteshed is the geographic area to which its labor force travels to work.
Over 76 percent of employed residents in Boone County commute to jobs located outside of the county. Marion County is the biggest destination for residents who work outside of Boone County.
Around 60 percent of out-commuters work in counties adjacent to Boone County, and Marion County remains the largest destination among adjacent counties. However, the fifth largest work destination outside Boone County is the Lafayette metropolitan area (Tippecanoe County).
23,188
7,188
Commuters
Proportion
Marion County, IN
12,544
41.3%
Boone County, IN
7,188
23.7%
Hamilton County, IN
3,672
12.1%
Hendricks County, IN
1,319
4.3%
Tippecanoe County, IN
537
1.8%
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)

35. Commuteshed in 2014 Labor market
Seventy-five percent of Boone County’s working residents are employed either in Boone, Hamilton or Marion counties in Indiana. Another 5 percent commute to Hendricks County, Indiana. An additional 5 percent travel to jobs in Tippecanoe and Clinton counties, Indiana.
Collectively, these six counties represent 85 percent of the commuteshed for Boone County.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

36. Laborshed Labor market Same Work/ In-Commuters Home
A county’s laborshed is the geographic area from which it draws employees.
Better than 71 percent of individuals employed in Boone County commute from another county for work.
More than 45 percent of in- commuters reside in counties adjacent to Boone County. Marion County and Hamilton County in Indiana are the largest sources of outside workers for Boone County.
17,260
7,188
Commuters
Proportion
Boone County, IN
7,188
29.4%
Marion County, IN
5,649
23.1%
Hamilton County, IN
2,273
9.3%
Hendricks County, IN
1,688
6.9%
Clinton County, IN
991
4.1%
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)

37. Laborshed in 2014 Labor market
The bulk (75 percent) of Boone County’s workforce is drawn from Boone, Clinton, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion and Tippecanoe counties in Indiana. Another 5 percent are from Johnson, Montgomery and Morgan counties. An additional 5 percent are drawn from Allen, Clark, Hancock, Madison and Putnam counties.
Combined, the 14 counties represent 85 percent of Boone County’s laborshed.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD

38. Takeaways Labor market
Boone County’s current unemployment rate is among the lowest in the state at 3.7percent (in ). Without question, the Great Recession that impacted the U.S. economy between and 2009 took a toll on the Boone County’s unemployment rate, but the impact was far less severe in the county than in many other counties across the state. As such, the percent unemployment rate experienced in in Boone County has steadily improved since that time. So today, Boone County enjoys one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state.
The county’s labor force has expanded since , adding more than 6,800 workers. This demonstrates that the job market in Boone County is quite strong. What the data on the inflow and outflow of labor reveals, however, is that a sizable proportion of Boone County’s labor force is traveling outside the county for work.
Certainly, there is nothing wrong with the county serving as a residential hub for talented workers who are employed in the Indianapolis/Marion County area. But, an issue that may warrant some discussion by local leaders is whether there is any value in trying to retain more of the talented workforce in the county by expanding the number of high-skilled/high-tech jobs that align with the skills of the county’s existing residential labor force. Certainly, there are a variety of benefits that would accrue to the county were it able to get more members of its labor force living and working in Boone County.
At the same time, given the number of counties that are part of Boone County’s commuteshed and laborshed, it may make sense for Boone County to remain an active participant in discussions that seek to build on the competitive economic assets and workforce development talents of the region.
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39. Notes
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.
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.
EMSI (Economic Modeling Specialists International):
The jobs, earnings and labor market data for Industries and occupations are obtained from EMSI. It provides unsuppressed data at North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 6-digit and Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) at 5-digit level for every county in the U.S.
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.
YourEconomy.org (YE): YE, an online tool by the Business Dynamics Research Consortium at the University of Wisconsin – Extension, provides data on the employment, sales, and number of establishments at numerous geographic levels in the United States.
A major data source for YE is the Infogroup Historical Database and additional Infogroup data files on establishments. This means that each entry is a different physical location, and company-level information must be created by adding the separate establishment components.

40. Report Contributors This report was prepared by the Purdue Center for Regional Development in partnership with Purdue University Extension.
Report Authors
Bo Beaulieu, Ph.D.
Wenxuan Li
Indraneel Kumar, Ph.D.
Data Analysis
Wenxuan Li
Andrey Zhalnin, Ph.D.
Indraneel Kumar, Ph.D.
Report Design
Tyler Wright
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41. FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact
Curt Emanuel
Boone County Extension Director OR
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.
Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD) seeks to pioneer new ideas and strategies that contribute to regional collaboration, innovation and prosperity.