Wilkin County Income Charts

This section shows the Wilkin County Minnesota economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Wilkin County indicates it has a Median earnings of $51,441 which is the second most of all the counties in the local area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Clay County which indicates a median earnings of $53,800 (only about 4.6% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Wilkin County is only about 3.6% smaller. Also, in contrast to the state of Minnesota, median earnings per worker of $57,586, Wilkin County is about 11.9% 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 $57,907 which is the second smallest when ranked by median household income of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Clay County which shows a median income of $67,984 (17.4% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Wilkin County is about 19.2% smaller. Also, measured against the state of Minnesota, median household income of $77,706, Wilkin County is approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Wilkin County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 3.6% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 5.5% 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 40.2 which is the second most average hours of all the counties in the greater Wilkin County region. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Traverse County which shows an average hours of 40.6 ( about the same size). 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 $24.61 which is the third most average hourly earnings of all other counties in the greater Wilkin County region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Clay County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $27.74 (12.7% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Wilkin County is about 7.3% smaller. Also, in contrast to the state of Minnesota, average hourly earnings of $28.99, Wilkin County is about 17.8% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Wilkin County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Wilkin County depicts it has a Self Employed of 20.6% which is the second most of all the counties in the greater region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Traverse County which depicts a percentage self employed of 20.9% ( only slightly larger).

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 when ranked by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the metro area at $65,063 of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of median income-25 to 44 years at $67,768 of the total. Third, it has the second smallest in order of median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the area in terms of median income-45 to 64 years at $42,857 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Wilkin County has the largest proportion of self employment income at 23.9% 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 22.5% which is the third most households with retirement income of all other counties in the greater Wilkin County region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Otter Tail County which shows a households with retirement income of 26.3% (17.0% 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 order of overall family income of all the other counties in the local area at $78,646 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian family income at $51,250 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Clay County ($71,294), and #1 Richland County ($137,917) are 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. Wilkin County depicts it has the hightest cost of 117.2 for the cost of utilities classification.

Wilkin 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 February 2010 to before the disasterous Covid-19 virus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 9.8% to 3.5% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 64.3%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 3.7% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 5.7%. 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 3,903 to 3,391 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 13.1%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 3,283 This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 3.2%.

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 Wilkin County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 2.6% which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Clay County which depicts a rate of 2.8% (10.0% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Wilkin County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 64.0% which is the third most participation rates of all other counties in the greater Wilkin County region.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Wilkin County shows full time employees approximately 3.7 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 Wilkin County area. Wilkin County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 21.2% which is in the middle range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Becker County which depicts a single earners rate of 23.7% (11.7% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Wilkin County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 14.6% which is the second smallest as measured by 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 Otter Tail County which depicts a families with no worker of 21.5% (47.3% larger).

Wilkin County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Wilkin 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. Wilkin County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 865 which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Clay County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 8,654 ( markedly bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Wilkin County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 13.5% which is the second most of all the counties in the greater region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Clay County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 14.1% (only about 3.8% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Wilkin 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 metro area at 17% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 35 to 54 years at 18% of the total and is ranked #1.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Wilkin County has the largest proportion of hawaiian poverty rate at 35% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Wilkin County has the largest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 44% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of unmarried with children and in poverty at 50% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Becker County with 51%.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Wilkin County has the largest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 15% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 5% 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. Wilkin County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and employed at 4.9% 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.) Wilkin County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 9.5% which is the third most households with public assistance of all other counties in the greater Wilkin County region. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Traverse County which shows a households with public assistance of 13.9% (46.7% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Wilkin County depicts it has a Gini Index of 46.4% which is the second most the gini index of all the counties in the greater Wilkin County region.

Wilkin County 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 Wilkin County 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.) Wilkin County has the largest proportion of people who drive a car or motorcycle to work at 1% 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 Wilkin County or elsewhere.) Wilkin County has the largest proportion of people who take the bus at 1% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Wilkin County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 7am to 730am at 25% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 8am to 830am at 1% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 0% of the total. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 11am to 12noon at 8% 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. Wilkin County has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 25% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Richland County with 28%. Second, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 21% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 8% of the total. Also, 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. Wilkin County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 18 which is the smallest when ranked by average commute time of all the other counties in the metro area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Wilkin County shows average commute time in minutes for men 31.5% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Wilkin County has the percentage of no vehicle available the second smallest when ranked by no vehicle available of all the other counties in the metro area at 12% of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of 1 vehicle available at 42% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Clay County with 46%. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 9% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of 4 vehicles available at 12% 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.) Wilkin County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 32% which is the smallest in order 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 Otter Tail County which shows a people who both work and live in the same city of 62% (about twice as large). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Wilkin County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared to the state of Minnesota, people who both work and live in the same city of 38%, Wilkin County is about 17.8% smaller.

Wilkin 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. Wilkin County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $105,469 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations category. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Wilkin County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $60,625 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations grouping. The table in Figure 48, shows Wilkin County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Wilkin 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. Wilkin County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 29% 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. Wilkin County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 34% for the self employed in professional, scientific, management, administrative services category.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Wilkin County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $42,225 which is the third most average annual self employment income of all other counties in the greater Wilkin County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Traverse County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $56,210 (33.1% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Wilkin County is about the same size. Also, compared to the state of Minnesota, average annual self employment income of $39,413, Wilkin County is 7.1% larger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Wilkin County depicts total number of self-employed men approximately 3.4 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.