Clay County Income Charts

This section shows the Clay County Arkansas economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Clay County depicts it has a Median earnings of $33,508 which is the smallest when ranked by median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Greene County which depicts a median earnings of $42,699 (27.4% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Clay County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Arkansas, median earnings per worker of $43,103, Clay County is approximately three-fourths the size.

In Figure 2 a more complete view of income is shown which aggregates income from all members in the household and it has a Median household income of $39,817 which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Greene County which depicts a median income of $51,367 (29.0% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Clay County is approximately half the size. Also, in contrast to the state of Arkansas, median household income of $52,123, Clay County is approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Clay County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 42.6% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $20,000 and $49,999 at 13.9% of the total.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 39.8 which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Randolph County which depicts an average hours of 40.8 (only about 2.5% larger). Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has a Avg Hrly Earnings of $16.19 which is the second smallest in terms of average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Greene County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $21.00 (29.7% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Clay County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of Arkansas, average hourly earnings of $20.98, Clay County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Clay County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Clay County depicts it has a Self Employed of 11.0% which is the third most people self employed of all other counties in the greater Clay County region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Randolph County which depicts a percentage self employed of 13.9% (26.2% larger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years the second smallest as measured by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the area at $44,938 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-25 to 44 years at $53,347 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Greene County with $59,549. Third, it has in the middle range of other counties in the local area in terms of median income-45 to 64 years at $33,750 of the total.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has a With Retirement Income of 21.8% which is in the mid range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Randolph County which depicts a households with retirement income of 23.3% (7.0% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and has the smallest proportion of overall family income at $53,821 of the total.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Clay County depicts it has the hightest cost of 104.3 for the cost of transportation category.

Clay County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data estimated by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS tracks unemployment statistics for a large number of areas throughout the country on a month to month basis. However, not every location in the U.S. is tracked by the BLS so the chart will only show the closest location available (which may be the same location.) Figure 14 shows the monthly unemployment rate for the area as well as a comparison to the overall national economy measure for the United States. Note that in March to April 2020, the Covid 19 recession or great recession occurred and affects this metric. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 12.8% to 5.9% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 53.9%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 3.7% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 37.3%. In Figure 15 the monthly labor force participation which are people actively looking for work are also defined as unemployed but do not include people who have given up looking for work. . It depicts that from February 2010 to before the Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 7,312 to 5,700 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 22.0%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 5,507 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 3.4%.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate/eligible for unemployment benefits and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows Clay County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 3.6% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Pemiscot County which shows a rate of 5.6% (54.9% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Clay County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 56.6% which is the second most participation rates of all the counties in the greater Clay County region.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Clay County indicates full time employees approximately 4.1 times bigger as the part time employees.

The next employment related data item is shown in Figure 21 which is the percentage of families with only a single earner in the greater Clay County area. Clay County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 29.8% which is in the middle range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Pemiscot County which depicts a single earners rate of 39.2% (31.6% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Clay County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 21.8% which is less than most other counties in the area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Ripley County which shows a families with no worker of 31.6% (45.2% larger).

Clay County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Clay County community. This performance can be enhanced by government programs such as economic opportunity zone to influence manufacturing, job growth, economic opportunity an hopefully lead to economic recovery after the recent Covid 19 recession. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. Clay County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 2,728 which is the second smallest in order of total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Butler County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 8,820 (approximately 3.2 times bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Clay County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 18.8% which is the second smallest in terms of percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Pemiscot County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 27.5% (46.4% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Clay County has the largest proportion of person in poverty under 12 years at 15% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Clay County has the largest proportion of black poverty rate at 38% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian poverty rate at 35% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Ripley County with 58%.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Clay County has the percentage of unmarried with children and in poverty in the center range of other counties in the metro area at 53% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of unmarried female with children and in poverty at 45% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Clay County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 14% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 10% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 29 looks at only those people who make less than the poverty level of income and breaks down there employment status. Clay County has the smallest proportion of people who are in poverty and employed at 2.0% of the total. Additionally, Figure 30 looks at the percentage of people who receive some form of public assistance including general assistance, temporary assistance or food stamps (i.e. SNAP.) Clay County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 16.1% which is the second smallest when sorted by households with public assistance of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Pemiscot County which depicts a households with public assistance of 32.3% (about twice as large).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Clay County shows it has a Gini Index of 43.6% which is less than most other counties in the local area.

Clay County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Clay County or elsewhere.) Clay County has the smallest proportion of people who carpooled at 9% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who walked at 3% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who took a taxicab, motorcycle or other at 1% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Clay County has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 4% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 11% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 10am to 11am at 1% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm at 7% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Clay County has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 19% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Dunklin County with 22%. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area when ranked by people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 15% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 15 to 19 minutes at 6% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 25 to 29 minutes at 15% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 30 to 34 minutes at 4% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Clay County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 23 which is the second most average commute time of all the counties in the greater Clay County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Clay County shows average commute time in minutes for men 24.7% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Clay County has one of the largest proportions of no vehicle available at 23% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Pemiscot County with 23%. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of 1 vehicle available at 42% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Butler County (44%), and #1 Greene County (44%) are larger. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 7% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of 4 vehicles available at 4% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Clay County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 42% which is the second smallest in terms of people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Butler County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 71% (68.9% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Clay County is only about 4.1% smaller. Also, benchmarked against the state of Arkansas, people who both work and live in the same city of 51%, Clay County is about 20.4% smaller.

Clay County Jobs Charts

The next to charts break out the median earnings for major job categories for men and women. Figure 46 shows the median earnings of men for the job categories. Clay County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $238,697 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations grouping. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Clay County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $40,938 for the management, business, and financial occupations category. The table in Figure 48, shows Clay County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Clay County Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows economic activity in terms of the number of people who are self employed in incorporated local business by industry. Clay County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 60% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses aggregate.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories such as manufacturing, retail sales, residential real estate, commercial real estate, health care, exports/imports, and advanced industries, etc. Clay County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 28% for the self employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining classification.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Clay County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $27,117 which is the second smallest in order of average annual self employment income of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Dunklin County which shows an average annual self employment income of $44,093 (62.6% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Clay County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in contrast to the state of Arkansas, average annual self employment income of $37,208, Clay County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Clay County depicts total number of self-employed men approximately 2.6 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.