Howard County Income Charts

This section shows the economic outlook and local economy using the most recent economic data from the 2019 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker. Howard County shows it has $31,722 median earnings which is the 6th ranked in median earnings out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest median earnings in the area is Little River County with an earnings of $41,295 is 30.2% larger. Comparing median earnings to the United States average of $47,712, Howard County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Arkansas, median earnings of $38,970, Howard County compares as about 22.8% smaller.

In Figure 2 we see a more complete view of income which includes all members in a household using the median household income and it has $35,900 median income which is the 4th smallest median income of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest median income in the area is Sevier County with an income of $46,667 measures 30.0% larger. Comparing median income to the United States average of $60,293, Howard County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of Arkansas, median income of $45,726, Howard County compares as approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics. In Figure 3 we see that it has the largest proportion of median earnings of $100,000 or more at 5.9% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has 39.1 average hours which is the 5th ranked in average hours out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Pike County with an average hours of 39.6 is only slightly larger. Dividing median annual worker earnings by the average number of hours worked in a year in Figure 6 shows that it has $15.60 average hourly earnings which is the 6th ranked in average hourly earnings out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Little River County with an average hourly earnings of $20.10 is 28.9% larger. Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $23.71, Howard County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of Arkansas, average hourly earnings of $19.02, Howard County is about 21.9% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Howard County indicates it has 11.5% Self Employed which is the 5th ranked in Self Employed out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest Self Employed in the area is Montgomery County with a Self Employed of 16.1% measures 40.1% larger.

In terms of the source of where income comes from, in Figure 9 Howard County has the largest proportion of self employment income at 16.3% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart (Figure 11) shows the percentage of households that had retirement income over the last 12 months and it has 16.8% households with retirement income which is the 6th ranked in households with retirement income out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Little River County with a households with retirement income of 22.9% is 36.7% larger.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Howard County shows it has hightest cost of 102.9 for cost of miscellaneous items.

Howard County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at very recent, monthly trended employment related performance using data from 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 measure for the United States. It shows that from February 2010 to April 2020 the Monthly Unemployment Rate went from 8.5% to 8.2%. This represents a decrease in the Monthly Unemployment Rate of 3.5%. 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. The participation level It illustrates that from February 2010 to April 2020 the Monthly Labor Force Participation went from 6,559 to 5,333. This represents a decrease in the Monthly Labor Force Participation of 18.7%.

The next two charts look at the annual unemployment rate and is based on the American Community survey. Figure 16 shows Howard County reveals it has 3.7% unemployment rate which is the 3d most of all other counties in the area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Little River County with a rate of 5.8% is 58.3% larger. Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Howard County reveals it has 57.7% participation rate which is the 2nd most of all the counties in the area.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Howard County shows full time employees compares as approximately 4.9 times bigger than 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. Howard County shows it has 32.5% families with a single earner which is the 4th ranked in families with a single earner out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Hempstead County with a single earners rate of 34.4% is only about 6.0% larger. The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Howard County shows it has 18.3% families with no one working which is the 6th ranked in families with no one working out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Montgomery County with a families with no worker of 35.7% measures about twice as large.

Howard County Poverty Charts

The next section details information about poverty in the area. In Figure 23 the total number of people earning less than the poverty level are shown. Howard County shows it has 2,526 total people earning less than the poverty level which is the 4th ranked in total people earning less than the poverty level out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Hempstead County with a total people earning less than the poverty level of 5,271 is about twice as large.

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Howard County shows it has 19.2% percent of people earning less than the poverty level which is the 4th ranked in percent of people earning less than the poverty level out of 10 total in the area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Polk County with a percent of people in poverty of 24.5% is 27.8% larger.

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Howard County has the largest proportion of person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 17% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Howard County has the largest proportion of Unmarried with children and in poverty at 66% of the total and is ranked #1. 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.) We can see that Howard County shows it has 17.2% households with public assistance which is the 2nd most of all the counties in the area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Little River County with a households with public assistance of 17.5% is only slightly larger.

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Howard County illustrates it has 52.8% the Gini Index which is the largest of all countiesin the area.

Howard County Work Commute Charts

Figure 32 shows a high level view of how people get to work (including the percent of people who work from home.) Howard County has the largest proportion of people who bicycle or walk to work at 3% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how people get to work for this location and shows Howard County has the largest proportion of people who walked at 3% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Howard County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 6am to 630am at 13% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Howard County has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 24% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Howard County indicates it has 22 average commute time which is the 6th ranked in average commute time out of 10 total in the area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time and Howard County shows average commute time in minutes for men compares as 22.1% larger than average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Howard County has the largest proportion of No vehicle available at 4% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 23% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of 4 vehicles available at 15% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Howard County shows it has 50% people who both work and live in the same city which is the 3d most of all other counties in the area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Polk County with a people who both work and live in the same city of 61% is 21.9% larger. Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 42%, Howard County is 20.6% larger. Also, compared to the state of Arkansas, people who both work and live in the same city of 51%, Howard County measures about the same size.

Howard 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. Howard County shows it has hightest median earnings of $55,278 for Management, business, and financial occupations. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Howard County shows it has hightest median earnings of $50,950 for Management, business, and financial occupations.

Howard County Self Employment Charts

Figure 49 shows the number of people who are self employed in incorporated businesses by industry. Howard County shows it has hightest entrepreneurs of 55% for self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses.

Similar to the last chart is Figure 50 which shows the number of people who are self employed but in more detailed industry categories. Howard County shows it has hightest entrepreneurs of 31% for self employed in retail trade.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment income is shown. Howard County shows it has $83,693 average annual self employment income which is more than all other countiesin the area. Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $37,819, Howard County is approximately 2.2 times bigger. Also, in contrast to the state of Arkansas, average annual self employment income of $33,965, Howard County is approximately 2.5 times bigger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women. Howard County shows total number of self-employed men is approximately 2.3 times bigger than total number of self-employed women.