Alexander County Income Charts

This section shows the Alexander County Illinois economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Alexander County depicts it has a Median earnings of $36,760 which is the smallest when ranked by median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Union County which shows a median earnings of $49,544 (34.8% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Alexander County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared with the state of Illinois, median earnings per worker of $56,393, Alexander 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 $39,871 which is the second smallest when ranked by median household income of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Cape Girardeau County which depicts a median income of $59,252 (48.6% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Alexander County is approximately half the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Illinois, median household income of $72,563, Alexander County is approximately half the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Alexander County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 10.5% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 11.6% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Pulaski County with 14.3%. 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 38.1 which is the third most average hours of all other counties in the greater Alexander County region. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Scott County which indicates an average hours of 39.6 (only about 3.9% 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 $18.55 which is the smallest in terms of average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Union County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $24.81 (33.7% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Alexander County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of Illinois, average hourly earnings of $28.10, Alexander County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Alexander County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Alexander County depicts it has a Self Employed of 6.9% which is the second smallest as measured by percentage of people self employed of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Cape Girardeau County which depicts a percentage self employed of 11.3% (64.3% larger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the smallest proportion of median income-under 25 years at $40,208 of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of median income-25 to 44 years at $38,676 of the total. Third, it has in the mid range of other counties in the local area in terms of median income-45 to 64 years at $40,739 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Alexander County has the smallest proportion of income from wages at 4.0% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of investment and retirement income at 17.6% 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 a With Retirement Income of 27.0% which is in the mid range of other counties in the area. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Pulaski County which depicts a households with retirement income of 30.5% (12.9% 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 $55,893 of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of white family income at $45,323 of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Alexander County depicts it has the hightest cost of 96.7 for the cost of miscellaneous items category.

Alexander 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 February 2010 to before the Wuhan Coronavirus/COVID Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 12.5% to 5.6% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 55.2%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 8.1% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 44.6%. 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 Covid-19 virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 2,952 to 1,766 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 40.2%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 1,829 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 3.6%.

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 Alexander County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 4.6% which is ranked #1 of all counties in the greater Alexander County region. Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Alexander County shows it has a Labor Force Participation of 43.3% which is the smallest in order of participation rate of all the other counties in the metro area.

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). Alexander County has the largest proportion of employed at 4.6% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of unemployed at 56.7% of the total and is ranked #1.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Alexander County shows full time employees approximately 5.0 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 Alexander County area. Alexander County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 38.9% which is the highest of all counties in the greater Alexander County region. The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Alexander County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 28.4% which is the second most families with no one working of all the counties in the greater Alexander County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Pulaski County which shows a families with no worker of 40.1% (41.5% larger).

Alexander County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Alexander 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. Alexander County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 1,316 which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Cape Girardeau County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 11,231 ( substantially bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Alexander County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 24.5% which is the largest of all counties in the greater Alexander County region.

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Alexander County has the percentage of person in poverty 12 to 17 years the second smallest as measured by person in poverty under 12 years of all the other counties in the surrounding region at 19% of the total.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Alexander County has the smallest proportion of white poverty rate at 26% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of hawaiian poverty rate at 60% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Alexander County has one of the largest proportions of married with children and in poverty at 54% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Mississippi County (54%), and #1 Ballard County (59%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of unmarried female 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. Alexander County has the largest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 12% 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.) Alexander County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 20.7% which is the second most households with public assistance of all the counties in the greater Alexander County region. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Mississippi County which depicts a households with public assistance of 32.7% (58.1% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Alexander County depicts it has a Gini Index of 46.9% which is the second most the gini index of all the counties in the greater Alexander County region.

Alexander County Work Commute Charts

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Alexander County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 19% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 4% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 11am to 12noon at 5% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Alexander County has the percentage of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes less than most other counties in the metro area at 12% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the metro area in terms of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 10% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 30 to 34 minutes at 0% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 60 to 89 minutes at 2% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Alexander County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 25 which is the second most average commute time of all the counties in the greater Alexander County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Alexander County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 10.5% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Alexander County has the percentage of no vehicle available less than most other counties in the surrounding region at 16% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 48% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 5% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Alexander County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 28% which is the second smallest when ranked by 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 Cape Girardeau County which shows 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 44%, Alexander County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of Illinois, people who both work and live in the same city of 41%, Alexander County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Alexander 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. Alexander County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $100,521 for the management, business, and financial occupations grouping. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Alexander County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $44,688 for the management, business, and financial occupations grouping. The table in Figure 48, shows Alexander County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Alexander 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. Alexander County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 55% for the self employed in sales and office related businesses classification.

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. Alexander County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 55% for the self employed in educational services, health care and social assistance category.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Alexander County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $30,315 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 Pulaski County which shows an average annual self employment income of $70,909 (approximately 2.3 times bigger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Alexander County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of Illinois, average annual self employment income of $41,211, Alexander 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.) Alexander County depicts total number of self-employed men 64.9% larger as the total number of self-employed women.