Monroe County Income Charts

This section shows the Monroe County West Virginia economy using the most recent economic analysis from the 2022 Census Bureau. Starting with Figure 1 which shows the median earnings per worker, Monroe County shows it has a Median earnings of $35,144 which is the smallest in order of median earnings per worker of all the other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Roanoke County which depicts a median earnings of $53,503 (52.2% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Monroe County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of West Virginia, median earnings per worker of $44,509, Monroe 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 $47,417 which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Roanoke County which depicts a median income of $74,622 (57.4% larger). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Monroe County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of West Virginia, median household income of $50,884, Monroe County is about 7.3% smaller.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Monroe County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it it has one of the largest proportions of earnings less than $10,000 at 7.1% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Greenbrier County with 7.2%. Second, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 42.5% 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 40.1 which is at the top of all other counties in the greater Monroe County region. 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 $16.85 which is the smallest when ranked by average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Montgomery County which shows an average hourly earnings of $27.57 (63.6% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Monroe County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, measured against the state of West Virginia, average hourly earnings of $21.95, Monroe County is approximately three-fourths the size.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Monroe County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Monroe County shows it has a Self Employed of 11.7% which is at the top of all other counties in the greater Monroe County region.

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 sorted by median income for those under 25 years of age of all the other counties in the local area at $55,472 of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the area when ranked by median income-25 to 44 years at $58,007 of the total. Third, it has in the mid range of other counties in the local area when sorted by median income-45 to 64 years at $37,891 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 31.2% which is the second most households with retirement income of all the counties in the greater Monroe County region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Craig County which depicts a households with retirement income of 32.1% (only about 2.9% 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 as measured by overall family income of all the other counties in the area at $56,901 of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of hawaiian family income at $87,778 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. Monroe County depicts it has the hightest cost of 102.3 for the cost of utilities aggregate.

Monroe 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 January 2017 to before the COVID-19 Pandemic it went from 5.3% to 6.9% in March 2020. This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of 30.2%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 2.5%. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 63.8%. 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 depicts that from January 2017 to before the Coronavirus Pandemic it went from 6,121 to 5,917 in November 2019. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 3.3%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 5,984. 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 Monroe County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 5.8% which is the highest of all counties in the greater Monroe County region. Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Monroe County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 50.9% which is the second smallest when sorted by participation rate of all the other counties in the area.

The Components of Employment Status graph in Figure 18 shows the composition of the labor force broken down by employed, unemployed, and not in the labor force (but 16 years of age or older). Monroe County has the largest proportion of employed at 5.8% of the total and is ranked #1.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Monroe County depicts full time employees approximately 4.7 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 Monroe County area. Monroe County depicts it has a Single Earner Families of 30.7% which is the second most families with a single earner of all the counties in the greater Monroe County region. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Greenbrier County which shows a single earners rate of 30.9% ( about the same size). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Monroe County shows it has a Families with No One Working of 35.1% which is the largest of all counties in the greater Monroe County region.

Monroe County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Monroe 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. Monroe County shows it has a Total In Poverty of 1,796 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 Montgomery County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 22,212 ( substantially bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Monroe County depicts it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 14.4% which is in the mid range of other counties in the area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Montgomery County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 24.8% (71.5% larger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Monroe County has the percentage of person in poverty 12 to 17 years less than most other counties in the metropolitan area at 19% of the total.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Monroe County has the percentage of white poverty rate the second smallest when ranked by white poverty rate of all the other counties in the greater region at 6% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest when ranked by white poverty rate of all the other counties in the greater region when ranked by hawaiian poverty rate at 8% of the total.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Monroe County has one of the largest proportions of married with children and in poverty at 65% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Summers County with 66%. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of unmarried with children and in poverty at 55% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Giles County (63%), and #1 Summers County (78%) are larger. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of unmarried female with children and in poverty at 75% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Craig County with 96%. Figure 29 looks at only those people who make less than the poverty level of income and breaks down there employment status. Monroe County has the percentage of people who are in poverty and unemployed less than most other counties in the metro area at 16.4% 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.) Monroe County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 16.0% which is the third most of all other counties in the local area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Summers County which shows a households with public assistance of 26.5% (65.1% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Monroe County depicts it has a Gini Index of 39.6% which is less than most other counties in the area.

Monroe County Work Commute Charts

Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Monroe County or elsewhere.) Monroe County has the largest proportion of people who carpooled at 13% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who took a taxicab, motorcycle or other 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. Monroe County has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 7% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 7% 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 largest proportion of people who leave for work between 11am to 12noon at 11% 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. Monroe County has the percentage of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes in the mid range of other counties in the area at 9% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest in terms of people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the metropolitan area in order of people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 7% of the total. Third, it has the second smallest as measured by people with commute time of less than 5 minutes of all the other counties in the local area in terms of people with commute time between 10 to 14 minutes at 10% of the total. Also, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 45 to 59 minutes at 14% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Monroe County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 35 which is the highest of all counties in the greater Monroe County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Monroe County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 6.5% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Monroe County has the percentage of no vehicle available less than most other counties in the surrounding region at 15% of the total. Second, it has the second smallest in terms of no vehicle available of all the other counties in the area as measured by 1 vehicle available at 32% of the total. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of 3 vehicles available at 17% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Craig County with 17%. Also, it has one of the largest proportions of 4 vehicles available at 9% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Craig County with 11%. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Monroe County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 37% which is the third most people who both work and live in the same city of all other counties in the greater Monroe County region. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Montgomery County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 54% (47.6% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Monroe County is about 19.4% smaller. Also, benchmarked against the state of West Virginia, people who both work and live in the same city of 36%, Monroe County is only slightly larger.

Monroe 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. Monroe County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $94,375 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations group. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Monroe County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $61,250 for the earnings-production, transportation, material moving occupations classification. The table in Figure 48, shows Monroe County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Monroe 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. Monroe County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 51% for the self employed in natural resources, construction, and maintenance businesses category.

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. Monroe County shows it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 51% for the self employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining aggregate.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Monroe County indicates it has a Self Employment Income of $14,604 which is the smallest in terms of average annual self employment income of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Greenbrier County which depicts an average annual self employment income of $38,262 (approximately 2.6 times bigger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Monroe County is approximately a third the size. Also, measured against the state of West Virginia, average annual self employment income of $33,509, Monroe 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.) Monroe County depicts total number of self-employed men 57.6% larger as the total number of self-employed women.