Hand County Income Charts

This section shows the Hand 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, Hand County depicts it has a Median earnings of $44,557 which is in the center range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Hyde County which shows a median earnings of $51,645 (15.9% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Hand County is about 19.6% smaller. Also, benchmarked against the state of South Dakota, median earnings per worker of $46,456, Hand County is only about 4.3% 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 $61,121 which is the third most of all other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Hyde County which shows a median income of $66,328 (8.5% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Hand County is about 12.9% smaller. Also, measured against the state of South Dakota, median household income of $63,920, Hand County is only about 4.6% smaller.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Hand County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has the largest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 9.4% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 3.1% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $50,000 and $74,999 at 10.1% 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 46.1 which is more than all other counties in the metro area. 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 $18.59 which is the second smallest in order 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 Jerauld County which shows an average hourly earnings of $23.75 (27.8% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Hand County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of South Dakota, average hourly earnings of $22.56, Hand County is about 21.4% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Hand County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Hand County depicts it has a Self Employed of 25.4% which is the third most people self employed of all other counties in the greater Hand County region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Faulk County which shows a percentage self employed of 35.3% (39.1% 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 $78,036 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Jerauld County with $81,417. Second, it has the largest proportion of median income-25 to 44 years at $76,250 of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has in the center range of other counties in the metro area in terms of median income-45 to 64 years at $44,808 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 13.1% which is the second smallest when ranked by households with retirement income of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Spink County which shows a households with retirement income of 20.0% (52.3% larger).

In the next chart, Figure 12, the median family income is shown for families broken down by racial group and it has the largest proportion of overall family income at $86,397 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. Hand County shows it has the hightest cost of 102.2 for the cost of healthcare classification.

Hand 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/COVID Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 3.8% to 2.2% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 42.1%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 2.1% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 4.5%. 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 shows that from February 2010 to before the disasterous COVID-19 Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 1,857 to 1,719 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 7.4%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 1,801 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 4.8%.

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 Hand County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 0.2% which is the second smallest as measured by unemployment rate of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Buffalo County which depicts a rate of 10.6% ( very much bigger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Hand County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 64.4% which is the third most participation rates of all other counties in the greater Hand County region.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Hand County depicts full time employees markedly 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 Hand County area. Hand County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 25.3% which is less than most other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Buffalo County which depicts a single earners rate of 34.0% (34.5% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Hand County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 11.0% which is the second smallest when ranked by families with no one working of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Faulk County which depicts a families with no worker of 17.1% (54.4% larger).

Hand County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Hand 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. Hand County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 273 which is less than most other counties in the area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Beadle County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 2,281 ( very much bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Hand County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 9.1% which is in the mid point range of other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Buffalo County which indicates a percent of people in poverty of 37.5% (approximately 4.1 times bigger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Hand County has one of the largest proportions of person in poverty 55 to 64 years at 30% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Jerauld County with 38%.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Hand County has the largest proportion of black poverty rate at 100% 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.) Hand County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 6.6% which is the third most households with public assistance of all other counties in the greater Hand County region. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Buffalo County which depicts a households with public assistance of 37.9% ( considerably bigger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Hand County depicts it has a Gini Index of 44.0% which is in the center range of other counties in the local area.

Hand 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 Hand 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.) Hand County has the largest proportion of people who take public transportation to work at 9% 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 Hand County or elsewhere.) Hand County has the largest proportion of people who walked at 9% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Hand County has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm at 2% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Hand County has one of the largest proportions of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 31% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Buffalo County (32%), and #1 Hyde County (34%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 40 to 44 minutes at 6% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Hand County indicates it has a Avg Commute Time of 14 which is the third most average commute time of all other counties in the greater Hand County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Hand County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 28.1% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Hand County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 54% which is the second smallest in terms 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 Hyde County which shows a people who both work and live in the same city of 76% (40.2% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Hand County is 23.5% larger. Also, benchmarked against the state of South Dakota, people who both work and live in the same city of 68%, Hand County is about 24.9% smaller.

Hand 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. Hand County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $250,001 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations aggregate. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Hand County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $57,841 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations classification. The table in Figure 48, shows Hand County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Hand 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. Hand County indicates it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 67% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses aggregate.

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. Hand County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 65% for the self employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining category.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Hand County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $57,227 which is in the mid point range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Jerauld County which shows an average annual self employment income of $79,689 (39.3% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Hand County is 35.8% larger. Also, measured against the state of South Dakota, average annual self employment income of $40,950, Hand County is 39.7% larger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Hand County depicts total number of self-employed men approximately 3.3 times bigger as the total number of self-employed women.