Bennett County Income Charts

This section shows the Bennett County South Dakota economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Bennett County depicts it has a Median earnings of $37,011 which is in the middle range of other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Mellette County which shows a median earnings of $44,167 (19.3% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Bennett County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of South Dakota, median earnings per worker of $46,456, Bennett 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 $40,664 which is the third most of all other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Cherry County which depicts a median income of $57,719 (41.9% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Bennett County is approximately half the size. Also, compared to the state of South Dakota, median household income of $63,920, Bennett County is approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Bennett County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 8.1% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 6.3% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 5 has the Average number of hours worked in a typical work week during the year, it has a Avg Hours Worked of 40.7 which is the third most average hours of all other counties in the greater Bennett County region. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Cherry County which depicts an average hours of 42.1 (only about 3.4% 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 $17.49 which is the second smallest when ranked by average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Mellette County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $22.18 (26.8% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Bennett County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, in comparison with the state of South Dakota, average hourly earnings of $22.56, Bennett County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Bennett County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Bennett County shows it has a Self Employed of 14.8% which is in the mid range of other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Cherry County which shows a percentage self employed of 28.3% (about twice as large).

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 $44,200 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Cherry County ($48,125), and #1 Sheridan County ($51,429) are larger. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-25 to 44 years at $42,500 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Sheridan County ($63,906), and #1 Cherry County ($71,563) are larger. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of median income-45 to 64 years at $36,875 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Sheridan County ($43,091), and #1 Cherry County ($47,708) are larger.

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 13.1% which is less than most other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Sheridan County which depicts a households with retirement income of 21.4% (63.0% 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 in the center range of other counties in the local area at $58,750 of the total. Second, it has in the mid range of other counties in the metropolitan area when sorted by black family income at $29,659 of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of hawaiian family income at $43,155 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. Bennett County depicts it has the hightest cost of 101.7 for the cost of grocery items aggregate.

Bennett 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 Wuhan Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 7.8% to 4.4% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 43.6%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 3.5% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 20.5%. 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 1,164 to 1,065 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 8.5%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 1,092 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 2.5%.

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 Bennett County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 5.9% which is the third most unemployment rate of all other counties in the greater Bennett County region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Todd County which depicts a rate of 5.9% ( about the same size). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Bennett County indicates it has a Labor Force Participation of 55.5% which is the third most participation rates of all other counties in the greater Bennett County region.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Bennett County depicts full time employees approximately 4.8 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 Bennett County area. Bennett County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 19.5% which is the second smallest in order of families with a single earner of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Todd County which shows a single earners rate of 44.5% (approximately 2.3 times bigger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Bennett County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 29.8% which is the third most families with no one working of all other counties in the greater Bennett County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Jackson County which depicts a families with no worker of 39.7% (33.1% larger).

Bennett County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Bennett 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. Bennett County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 1,165 which is in the mid range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Oglala Lakota County which indicates a total people earning less than the poverty level of 6,941 ( appreciably bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Bennett County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 34.9% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Todd County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 59.0% (69.1% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Bennett County has the largest proportion of person in poverty under 12 years at 18% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 13% of the total. Third, it has the second smallest in order of person in poverty under 12 years of all the other counties in the local area in terms of person in poverty 55 to 64 years at 6% of the total.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Bennett County has the largest proportion of american indian poverty rate at 26% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of hawaiian poverty rate at 50% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Oglala Lakota County (52%), and #1 Todd County (68%) are larger.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Bennett County has the percentage of less than highschool in poverty less than most other counties in the local area at 24% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 5% of the total. Figure 29 looks at only those people who make less than the poverty level of income and breaks down there employment status. Bennett County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and employed at 5.8% 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.) Bennett County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 20.6% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Oglala Lakota County which indicates a households with public assistance of 51.8% (approximately 2.5 times bigger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Bennett County depicts it has a Gini Index of 47.7% which is in the mid range of other counties in the greater region.

Bennett County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Bennett County or elsewhere.) Bennett County has the smallest proportion of people who carpooled at 6% of the total.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Bennett County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 9% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 8am to 830am 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. Bennett County has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 36% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Jackson County with 43%. 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 metropolitan area as measured by people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 11% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 6% 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. Bennett County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 12 which is the second smallest when sorted by average commute time of all the other counties in the greater region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Bennett County depicts 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 Bennett County has the percentage of no vehicle available less than most other counties in the greater region at 20% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 40% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 3% of the total. Also, it has less than most other counties in the area when sorted by 4 vehicles available at 9% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Bennett County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 72% which is the second most of all the counties in the metro area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Jackson County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 84% (16.8% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Bennett County is 63.1% larger. Also, benchmarked against the state of South Dakota, people who both work and live in the same city of 68%, Bennett County is only about 5.8% larger.

Bennett 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. Bennett County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $75,066 for the earnings-sales and office occupations group. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Bennett County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $61,250 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations aggregate. The table in Figure 48, shows Bennett County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Bennett 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. Bennett County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 58% 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. Bennett County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 42% for the self employed in retail trade group.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Bennett County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $62,730 which is the largest of all counties in the local area. Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Bennett County is 48.9% larger. Also, compared to the state of South Dakota, average annual self employment income of $40,950, Bennett County is 53.2% larger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Bennett County shows total number of self-employed men approximately 3.2 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.