Middlesex County Income Charts

This section shows the Middlesex County New Jersey economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Middlesex County depicts it has a Median earnings of $68,415 which is the third most of all other counties in the area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Somerset County which depicts a median earnings of $82,414 (20.5% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Middlesex County is 28.4% larger. Also, compared with the state of New Jersey, median earnings per worker of $66,099, Middlesex County is only about 3.5% larger.

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 $96,883 which is the third most of all other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Somerset County which indicates a median income of $121,695 (25.6% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Middlesex County is 40.4% larger. Also, measured against the state of New Jersey, median household income of $89,703, Middlesex County is 8.0% larger.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 38.6 which is the third most of all other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Somerset County which depicts an average hours of 39.2 ( only slightly 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 $34.08 which is in the center range of other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Somerset County which shows an average hourly earnings of $40.43 (18.6% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Middlesex County is 29.1% larger. Also, measured against the state of New Jersey, average hourly earnings of $33.02, Middlesex County is only about 3.2% larger.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Middlesex County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Middlesex County indicates it has a Self Employed of 8.8% which is the second smallest when ranked by 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 Monmouth County which depicts a percentage self employed of 11.1% (26.6% larger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-under 25 years at $106,035 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Somerset County ($121,772), and #1 Monmouth County ($126,403) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-25 to 44 years at $115,770 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Monmouth County ($136,916), and #1 Somerset County ($153,910) are larger. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-45 to 64 years at $62,238 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Monmouth County ($71,864), and #1 Somerset County ($78,753) are larger.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Middlesex County has the smallest proportion of income from wages at 3.1% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of self employment income at 9.6% 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 22.3% which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Monmouth County which depicts a households with retirement income of 25.9% (16.0% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and has the smallest proportion of overall family income at $110,822 of the total. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of white family income at $95,948 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Somerset County with $99,252. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of black family income at $93,060 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Monmouth County with $106,795. Also, it has the second smallest as measured by overall family income of all the other counties in the greater region when sorted by american indian family income at $150,369 of the total. In addition, it has in the middle range of other counties in the greater region when ranked by hawaiian family income at $72,763 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. Middlesex County shows it has the hightest cost of 144.7 for the cost of housing aggregate.

Middlesex County Labor Force Charts

The next two charts look at 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 2022, the Covid 19 recession occurred and affects this metric. The monthly unemployment rate shows that from February 2017 to before the COVID-19 Pandemic it went from 4.3% to 3.0% in December 2019. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 30.2%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 3.0%. This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of very little. 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. The monthly labor force participation shows that from January 2017 to before the Coronavirus Pandemic it went from 431,044 to 441,938 in November 2019. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 2.5%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 441,938. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of very little.

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 Middlesex County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 4.0% which is the third most of all other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Essex County which shows a rate of 5.7% (40.3% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Middlesex County shows it has a Labor Force Participation of 65.7% which is less than most other counties in the local area.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Middlesex County depicts full time employees approximately 4.3 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 Middlesex County area. Middlesex County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 30.2% which is the second most of all the counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Richmond County which depicts a single earners rate of 32.5% (7.6% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Middlesex County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 12.0% which is in the middle range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Richmond County which shows a families with no worker of 18.3% (52.0% larger).

Middlesex County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Middlesex 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. Middlesex County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 69,630 which is the second most total people earning less than the poverty level of all the counties in the greater Middlesex County region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Essex County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 126,984 (about twice as large).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Middlesex County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 8.4% which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Essex County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 15.3% (about twice as large).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Middlesex County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 21% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 35 to 54 years at 9% of the total.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Middlesex County has the percentage of white poverty rate the second smallest as measured by white poverty rate of all the other counties in the metro area at 9% of the total. Second, it has in the mid range of other counties in the metro area in terms of asian poverty rate at 18% 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.) Middlesex County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 7.5% which is less than most other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Essex County which shows a households with public assistance of 15.0% (about twice as large).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Middlesex County shows it has a Gini Index of 43.0% which is the smallest when sorted by the gini index of all the other counties in the greater region.

Middlesex County Work Commute Charts

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Middlesex County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 10am to 11am at 2% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Middlesex County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 34 which is in the middle range of other counties in the metro area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Middlesex County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 50.9% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Middlesex County has the percentage of no vehicle available less than most other counties in the greater region at 21% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Middlesex County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 20% which is the second smallest when sorted by people who both work and live in the same city of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Richmond County which shows a people who both work and live in the same city of 93% (approximately 4.5 times bigger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Middlesex County is approximately half the size. Also, compared with the state of New Jersey, people who both work and live in the same city of 24%, Middlesex County is about 17.7% smaller.

Middlesex 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. Middlesex County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $112,912 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations group. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Middlesex County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $93,528 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations classification. The table in Figure 48, shows Middlesex County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Middlesex 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. Middlesex County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 52% 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. Middlesex County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 26% for the self employed in professional, scientific, management, administrative services grouping.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Middlesex County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $43,268 which is the smallest in terms of average annual self employment income of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Somerset County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $66,194 (53.0% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Middlesex County is only about 2.7% larger. Also, compared to the state of New Jersey, average annual self employment income of $51,981, Middlesex County is about 20.1% smaller.

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