West Point Arkansas Income Charts

This section shows the West Point Arkansas economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2021 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, West Point shows it has a Median earnings of $27,000 which is the smallest in order of median earnings per worker of all the other places in the greater region. The city with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Higginson which shows a median earnings of $44,107 (63.4% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $50,459, West Point is approximately half the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Arkansas, median earnings per worker of $41,104, West Point 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 $21,667 which is the smallest when sorted by median household income of all the other places in the greater region. The city with the highest median household income in the area is Higginson which shows a median income of $56,875 (approximately 2.6 times bigger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $64,994, West Point is approximately a third the size. Also, in contrast to the state of Arkansas, median household income of $49,475, West Point is approximately half the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the West Point metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has one of the largest proportions of earnings less than $10,000 at 10.6% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Higginson (20.7%), and #1 Judsonia (27.6%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 12.1% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the second smallest in order of median earnings of less than $10,000 of all the other places in the local area as measured by earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 28.8% 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 30.5 which is the smallest when sorted by average hours of all the other places in the area. The city with the highest average hours in the area is Griffithville which shows an average hours of 43.8 (43.6% 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 $17.02 which is less than most other places in the local area. The city with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Higginson which shows an average hourly earnings of $21.64 (27.1% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $25.01, West Point is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of Arkansas, average hourly earnings of $20.01, West Point is about 17.6% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the West Point metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. West Point shows it has a Self Employed of 4.5% which is in the mid range of other places in the metropolitan area. The city with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Higginson which shows a percentage self employed of 25.8% ( considerably bigger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the smallest proportion of median income-25 to 44 years at $21,875 of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other places in the local area when ranked by median income-45 to 64 years at $22,143 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 18.2% which is the second smallest when ranked by households with retirement income of all the other places in the metropolitan area. The city with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Kensett which shows a households with retirement income of 29.0% (59.4% larger).

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. West Point depicts it has the hightest cost of 97.9 for the cost of grocery items grouping.

West Point Arkansas 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 January 2011 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 7.3% to 4.5% in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 38.4%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 2.7% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 40.0%. 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 2011 to before the disasterous COVID Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 11,355 to 12,108 in February 2020. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 6.6%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 11,847 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 2.2%.

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 West Point shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 1.5% which is less than most other places in the local area. The city with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Searcy which depicts a rate of 3.6% (approximately 2.4 times bigger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. West Point shows it has a Labor Force Participation of 49.2% which is less than most other places in the metropolitan area.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. West Point depicts full time employees 29.6% larger 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 West Point area. West Point shows it has a Single Earner Families of 46.7% which is at the top of all other places in the greater West Point region.

West Point Arkansas Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the West Point 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. West Point shows it has a Total In Poverty of 64 which is the second smallest when sorted by total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other places in the greater region. The city with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Searcy which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 3,847 ( very much bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. West Point shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 44.4% which is more than all other places in the greater West Point region.

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. West Point has the largest proportion of person in poverty 35 to 54 years at 20% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 55 to 64 years at 19% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. West Point has the largest proportion of white poverty rate at 95% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. West Point has the largest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 78% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of unmarried with children and in poverty at 78% 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. West Point has the largest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 38% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of highschool graduate and in poverty at 55% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 75% 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. West Point has the smallest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 1.6% 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.) West Point depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 15.9% which is in the middle range of other places in the greater region. The city with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Kensett which depicts a households with public assistance of 28.5% (79.0% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). West Point shows it has a Gini Index of 39.3% which is less than most other places in the surrounding region.

West Point Arkansas Work Commute Charts

The following set of charts detail a variety of metrics that have economic impact, economic grow factors and economic development metrics in the West Point community and has an impact on other factors such as economic growth, population growth, economic recovery, job growth, etc.. Figure 32 shows a high level view of how the population commutes to work (including the percent of people who work from home.) West Point has the largest proportion of people who bicycle or walk to work at 17% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown West Point or elsewhere.) West Point has the smallest proportion of people who drove alone at 78% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who work from home at 17% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. West Point has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 16% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm at 18% 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. West Point has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 33% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger city being Higginson with 39%. Second, it has less than most other places in the surrounding region in order of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 14% of the total. Third, it has in the mid range of other places in the local area in terms of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 22% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. West Point depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 10 which is the smallest as measured by average commute time of all the other places in the local area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. West Point shows average commute time in minutes for men approximately three-fourths the size as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and West Point has the largest proportion of no vehicle available at 45% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 12% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 2 vehicles available at 8% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of 4 vehicles available at 27% 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.) West Point depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 32% which is the second most people who both work and live in the same city of all the places in the greater West Point region. The city with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Searcy which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 74% (approximately 2.3 times bigger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 43%, West Point is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared with the state of Arkansas, people who both work and live in the same city of 51%, West Point is approximately three-fourths the size.

West Point Arkansas 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. West Point depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $36,875 for the earnings-natural resources, construction, maintenance occupations category. The table in Figure 48, shows West Point employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.