Lafayette County Income Charts

This section shows the Lafayette County Arkansas economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2021 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Lafayette County shows it has a Median earnings of $33,217 which is less than most other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Bossier Parish which depicts a median earnings of $47,190 (42.1% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $50,459, Lafayette County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Arkansas, median earnings per worker of $41,104, Lafayette County is about 23.7% smaller.

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 $33,763 which is the second smallest in order of median household income of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Bossier Parish which depicts a median income of $55,448 (64.2% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $64,994, Lafayette County is approximately half the size. Also, compared to the state of Arkansas, median household income of $49,475, Lafayette County is approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Lafayette County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has one of the largest proportions of earnings less than $10,000 at 11.6% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Webster Parish with 15.8%.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 40.9 which is the largest of all counties in the greater Lafayette County region. 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 $15.62 which is the second smallest in order of average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Bossier Parish which depicts an average hourly earnings of $22.41 (43.5% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $25.01, Lafayette County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Arkansas, average hourly earnings of $20.01, Lafayette County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Lafayette County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Lafayette County depicts it has a Self Employed of 12.8% which is more than all other counties in the greater Lafayette County region.

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years in the mid range of other counties in the surrounding region at $43,641 of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the local area in terms of median income-25 to 44 years at $47,754 of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of median income-45 to 64 years at $25,726 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 15.4% which is the smallest in order of households with retirement income of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Webster Parish which shows a households with retirement income of 25.5% (65.2% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and has the percentage of overall family income the second smallest in terms of overall family income of all the other counties in the local area at $58,125 of the total. Second, it has in the middle range of other counties in the metro area in order of white family income at $35,185 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. Lafayette County depicts it has the hightest cost of 99.6 for the cost of miscellaneous items group.

Lafayette 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 shows that from January 2010 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 10.8% to 7.2% in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 33.3%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 4.5% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 37.5%. 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. . It depicts that from January 2010 to before the disasterous Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 3,014 to 2,446 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 18.8%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 2,304 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 5.8%.

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 Lafayette County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 3.3% which is the second most unemployment rate of all the counties in the greater Lafayette County region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Miller County which shows a rate of 4.3% (31.8% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Lafayette County shows it has a Labor Force Participation of 48.9% which is the second smallest as measured by participation rate of all the other counties in the local area.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Lafayette County depicts full time employees approximately 4.4 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 Lafayette County area. Lafayette County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 31.2% which is the third most families with a single earner of all other counties in the greater Lafayette County region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Nevada County which shows a single earners rate of 34.7% (11.1% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Lafayette County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 19.9% which is the second smallest in terms of families with no one working of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Webster Parish which shows a families with no worker of 30.9% (55.2% larger).

Lafayette County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Lafayette 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. Lafayette County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 1,621 which is the smallest when sorted by total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Bossier Parish which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 20,895 ( substantially bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Lafayette County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 24.7% which is the second most percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the counties in the greater Lafayette County region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Webster Parish which shows a percent of people in poverty of 27.5% (11.5% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Lafayette County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 18% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 35 to 54 years at 16% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 55 to 64 years at 17% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Lafayette County has the largest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 70% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of unmarried with children and in poverty at 73% 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. Lafayette County has the largest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 11% 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.) Lafayette County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 14.8% which is in the intermediate range of other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Webster Parish which shows a households with public assistance of 22.2% (49.7% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Lafayette County depicts it has a Gini Index of 49.7% which is the third most the gini index of all other counties in the greater Lafayette County region.

Lafayette County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Lafayette County or elsewhere.) Lafayette County has the largest proportion of people who took a taxicab, motorcycle or other at 2% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Lafayette County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 6% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 9% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 13% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 6am to 630am at 9% of the total. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 630 am to 7am at 26% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 8% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Lafayette County has the percentage of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes the second smallest when ranked by people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the metro area at 11% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 11% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 10% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 20 to 24 minutes at 9% of the total and is ranked #1. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 35 to 39 minutes at 6% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 45 to 59 minutes at 11% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Lafayette County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 28 which is the second most average commute time of all the counties in the greater Lafayette County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Lafayette County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 10.1% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Lafayette County has the percentage of 4 vehicles available the second smallest as measured by no vehicle available of all the other counties in the area at 2% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Lafayette County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 27% which is the smallest in terms of people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Columbia County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 57% (about twice as large). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 43%, Lafayette County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Arkansas, people who both work and live in the same city of 51%, Lafayette County is approximately half the size.

Lafayette 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. Lafayette County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $61,555 for the management, business, and financial occupations group. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Lafayette County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $39,038 for the management, business, and financial occupations category. The table in Figure 48, shows Lafayette County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Lafayette 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. Lafayette County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 51% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses group.

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. Lafayette County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 44% for the self employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining grouping.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Lafayette County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $35,790 which is the second most average annual self employment income of all the counties in the greater Lafayette County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Bossier Parish which depicts an average annual self employment income of $183,082 ( considerably bigger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $40,101, Lafayette County is about 12.0% smaller. Also, benchmarked against the state of Arkansas, average annual self employment income of $36,313, Lafayette County is about the same size.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Lafayette County depicts total number of self-employed men about twice as large as the total number of self-employed women.