Whitfield County Income Charts

This section shows the Whitfield County Georgia economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2020 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Whitfield County depicts it has a Median earnings of $34,002 which is the smallest when sorted by median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Hamilton County which shows a median earnings of $44,774 (31.7% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $49,041, Whitfield County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in contrast to the state of Georgia, median earnings per worker of $44,957, Whitfield 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 $48,623 which is in the mid range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Catoosa County which shows a median income of $56,235 (15.7% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $62,843, Whitfield County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared to the state of Georgia, median household income of $58,700, Whitfield County is about 20.7% smaller.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Whitfield County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has one of the largest proportions of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 46.6% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Murray County with 48.4%. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $20,000 and $49,999 at 15.9% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $50,000 and $74,999 at 3.0% 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 38.8 which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Gordon County which depicts an average hours of 40.0 (only about 3.1% 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 $16.85 which is the smallest in terms of average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Hamilton County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $22.13 (31.3% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $24.31, Whitfield County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of Georgia, average hourly earnings of $21.94, Whitfield County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Whitfield County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Whitfield County shows it has a Self Employed of 5.6% which is the second smallest in terms of percentage of people self employed of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Bradley County which depicts a percentage self employed of 10.8% (about twice as large).

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 in terms of median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the metro area at $51,181 of the total. Second, it has in the mid range of other counties in the area when sorted by median income-25 to 44 years at $57,432 of the total. Third, it has in the center range of other counties in the greater region when sorted by median income-45 to 64 years at $33,835 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Whitfield County has the smallest proportion of income from wages at 2.8% 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 11.0% which is the smallest when ranked by 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 Bradley County which indicates a households with retirement income of 20.2% (about twice as large).

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 less than most other counties in the greater region at $56,935 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of white family income at $52,038 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Catoosa County with $68,882. Third, it has in the mid point range of other counties in the metro area in order of black family income at $38,958 of the total. Also, it has in the middle range of other counties in the greater region when sorted by american indian family income at $57,917 of the total. In addition, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian family income at $49,766 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Catoosa County with $59,891.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Whitfield County depicts it has the hightest cost of 97.4 for the cost of grocery items group.

Whitfield 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 January 2006 to before the Wuhan Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 4.7% to 4.4% in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 6.4%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 6.7% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 52.3%. 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 disasterous Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 47,647 to 43,521 in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 8.7%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 41,984 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 3.5%.

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 Whitfield County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 3.3% which is the third most unemployment rate of all other counties in the greater Whitfield County region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Murray County which depicts a rate of 4.0% (19.3% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Whitfield County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 62.6% which is at the top of all other counties in the greater Whitfield County region.

The Components of Employment Status graph in Figure 18 shows the composition of the labor force broken down by employed, unemployed, and not in the labor force (but 16 years of age or older). Whitfield County has the smallest proportion of unemployed at 37.4% of the total.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Whitfield County shows full time employees very much 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 Whitfield County area. Whitfield County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 32.6% which is the third most families with a single earner of all other counties in the greater Whitfield County region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Murray County which shows a single earners rate of 33.3% ( only slightly larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Whitfield County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 14.7% which is the smallest as measured by families with no one working of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Bradley County which shows a families with no worker of 19.4% (31.9% larger).

Whitfield County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Whitfield 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. Whitfield County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 16,355 which is the second most of all the counties in the local area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Hamilton County which shows a total people earning less than the poverty level of 44,952 (approximately 2.7 times bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Whitfield County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 15.9% which is in the middle range of other counties in the area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Gordon County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 18.0% (13.3% larger).

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Whitfield County has one of the largest proportions of black poverty rate at 57% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Walker County with 62%. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of american indian poverty rate at 21% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Gordon County (22%), and #1 Walker County (25%) are larger. 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.) Whitfield County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 10.6% which is the second smallest when ranked 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 Bradley County which shows a households with public assistance of 15.9% (49.9% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Whitfield County shows it has a Gini Index of 45.9% which is the third most the gini index of all other counties in the greater Whitfield County region.

Whitfield County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Whitfield County or elsewhere.) Whitfield County has the largest proportion of people who carpooled at 11% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Whitfield County has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 3% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 3% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Whitfield County has the percentage of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes the second smallest as measured by people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the surrounding region at 7% of the total. Second, it has in the mid range of other counties in the local area when sorted by people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 15% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 25% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 35 to 39 minutes at 1% of the total. In addition, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 60 to 89 minutes at 1% of the total.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Whitfield County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 21 which is the smallest in terms of average commute time of all the other counties in the surrounding region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Whitfield County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 40.2% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Whitfield County has the smallest proportion of 2 vehicles available at 23% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of 4 vehicles available at 7% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Walker County (7%), and #1 Murray County (8%) are larger. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Whitfield County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 53% which is in the mid range of 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 Hamilton County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 60% (12.3% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 42%, Whitfield County is 27.0% larger. Also, benchmarked against the state of Georgia, people who both work and live in the same city of 40%, Whitfield County is 32.8% larger.

Whitfield 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. Whitfield County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $66,250 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations category. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Whitfield County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $81,979 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations aggregate. The table in Figure 48, shows Whitfield County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Whitfield 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. Whitfield County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 32% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses grouping.

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. Whitfield County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 21% for the self employed in professional, scientific, management, administrative services classification.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Whitfield County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $33,917 which is the third most average annual self employment income of all other counties in the greater Whitfield County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Murray County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $45,460 (34.0% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $39,154, Whitfield County is about 15.4% smaller. Also, measured against the state of Georgia, average annual self employment income of $36,677, Whitfield County is about 8.1% smaller.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Whitfield County depicts total number of self-employed men approximately 2.4 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.