Garfield County Income Charts

This section shows the Garfield County Washington economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2021 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Garfield County shows it has a Median earnings of $44,500 which is the second smallest when ranked by median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Walla Walla County which shows a median earnings of $50,051 (12.5% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $50,459, Garfield County is about 13.4% smaller. Also, compared with the state of Washington, median earnings per worker of $59,178, Garfield 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 $56,923 which is in the middle range of other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Columbia County which depicts a median income of $61,779 (8.5% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $64,994, Garfield County is about 14.2% smaller. Also, in comparison with the state of Washington, median household income of $77,006, Garfield County is approximately three-fourths the size.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Garfield County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 4.5% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 40.5% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 3.2% 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 38.5 which is in the middle range of other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Nez Perce County which depicts an average hours of 39.1 ( 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 $22.23 which is the second smallest when ranked by average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Whitman County which depicts an average hourly earnings of $26.86 (20.8% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $25.01, Garfield County is about 12.5% smaller. Also, measured against the state of Washington, average hourly earnings of $29.48, Garfield County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Garfield County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Garfield County shows it has a Self Employed of 14.2% which is the largest of all counties in the local area.

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years in the middle range of other counties in the local area at $66,691 of the total. Second, it has in the mid range of other counties in the surrounding region in terms of median income-25 to 44 years at $72,632 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 surrounding region in order of median income-45 to 64 years at $41,563 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 29.1% which is the second most households with retirement income of all the counties in the greater Garfield County region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Asotin County which depicts a households with retirement income of 30.8% (only about 5.8% 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 when sorted by overall family income of all the other counties in the area at $69,211 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. Garfield County depicts it has the hightest cost of 110.0 for the cost of healthcare aggregate.

Garfield 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 indicates that from January 2010 to before the disasterous COVID Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 12.4% to 6.6% in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 46.8%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 7.0% This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 6.1%. 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 January 2010 to before the disasterous COVID Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 1,015 to 813 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 19.9%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 861 This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 5.9%.

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 Garfield County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 3.7% which is the second most unemployment rate of all the counties in the greater Garfield County region. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Whitman County which shows a rate of 4.8% (29.5% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Garfield County shows it has a Labor Force Participation of 56.9% which is the second smallest as measured by participation rate of all the other counties in the metropolitan area.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Garfield 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 Garfield County area. Garfield County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 22.0% which is the smallest as measured by families with a single earner of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Columbia County which depicts a single earners rate of 28.1% (27.8% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Garfield County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 22.9% which is the second most families with no one working of all the counties in the greater Garfield County region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Asotin County which depicts a families with no worker of 31.3% (36.6% larger).

Garfield County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Garfield 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. Garfield County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 186 which is the smallest in terms of total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Whitman County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 11,067 ( markedly bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Garfield County indicates it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 8.3% which is the second smallest when ranked by percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Whitman County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 26.0% (approximately 3.1 times bigger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Garfield County has the largest proportion of person in poverty under 12 years at 25% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by person in poverty under 12 years of all the other counties in the metropolitan area when sorted by person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 21% of the total. Third, it has less than most other counties in the greater region when sorted by person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 13% of the total. Also, it has one of the largest proportions of person in poverty 55 to 64 years at 19% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Columbia County with 19%.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Garfield County has the largest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 54% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of unmarried with children and in poverty at 100% 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. Garfield County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 10% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of highschool graduate 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. Garfield County has the percentage of people who are in poverty and unemployed the second smallest when ranked by people who are in poverty and employed of all the other counties in the greater region at 11.8% 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.) Garfield County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 8.5% which is the second smallest when ranked by households with public assistance of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Asotin County which shows a households with public assistance of 17.9% (about twice as large).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Garfield County shows it has a Gini Index of 35.1% which is the smallest when sorted by the gini index of all the other counties in the surrounding region.

Garfield 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 Garfield 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.) Garfield County has the largest proportion of people who bicycle or walk to work at 12% 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 Garfield County or elsewhere.) Garfield County has the largest proportion of people who carpooled at 12% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who work from home at 12% of the total and is ranked #1.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Garfield County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 21% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 6am to 630am at 12% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 730 am to 8am at 5% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 830 am to 9am at 1% of the total. In addition, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 9am to 10am at 1% of the total. Furthermore, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 11am to 12noon at 1% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Garfield County has the smallest proportion of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes at 17% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 8% of the total. Third, it has the second smallest in order of people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the area as measured by people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 10% of the total. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people with commute time between 15 to 19 minutes at 2% of the total. In addition, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 25 to 29 minutes at 8% of the total and is ranked #1. Furthermore, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 40 to 44 minutes at 14% of the total and is ranked #1. Next it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 45 to 59 minutes at 12% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Garfield County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 23 which is the largest of all counties in the local area. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Garfield County depicts average commute time in minutes for men about 16.9% smaller as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Garfield County has the smallest proportion of no vehicle available at 13% of the total. Second, it has in the center range of other counties in the metro area when ranked by 1 vehicle available at 40% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of 2 vehicles available at 33% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has less than most other counties in the greater region when sorted by 3 vehicles available at 8% of the total. In addition, it has in the center range of other counties in the local area as measured by 4 vehicles available at 7% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Garfield County shows it has a Work in city or place where live of 52% 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 local area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Whitman County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 74% (40.4% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 43%, Garfield County is 23.0% larger. Also, in comparison with the state of Washington, people who both work and live in the same city of 39%, Garfield County is 35.5% larger.

Garfield 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. Garfield County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $75,588 for the earnings-protective service occupations classification. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Garfield County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $56,696 for the management, business, and financial occupations classification. The table in Figure 48, shows Garfield County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Garfield 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. Garfield County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 69% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts businesses grouping.

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. Garfield County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 69% for the self employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining grouping.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Garfield County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $21,667 which is the 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 Columbia County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $57,335 (approximately 2.6 times bigger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $40,101, Garfield County is approximately half the size. Also, measured against the state of Washington, average annual self employment income of $40,607, Garfield County is approximately half the size.

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