Pleasants County Income Charts

This section shows the Pleasants 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, Pleasants County depicts it has a Median earnings of $41,840 which is in the center range of other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest median earnings per worker in the area is Washington County which shows a median earnings of $43,765 (only about 4.6% larger). Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Pleasants County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, compared to the state of West Virginia, median earnings per worker of $44,509, Pleasants County is about 6.4% 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 $58,433 which is the second most median income of all the counties in the greater Pleasants County region. The county with the highest median household income in the area is Doddridge County which shows a median income of $58,750 ( about the same size). Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Pleasants County is about 18.1% smaller. Also, measured against the state of West Virginia, median household income of $50,884, Pleasants County is 14.8% larger.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Pleasants County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 5.3% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $10,000 and $14,999 at 4.7% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 39.3% 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 41.1 which is more than all other counties in the greater Pleasants 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 $19.58 which is the second smallest in order of average hourly earnings of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest average hourly earnings in the area is Washington County which shows an average hourly earnings of $21.97 (12.2% larger). Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Pleasants County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, versus the state of West Virginia, average hourly earnings of $21.95, Pleasants County is about 12.1% smaller.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Pleasants County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Pleasants County depicts it has a Self Employed of 10.2% which is more than all other counties in the greater Pleasants County region.

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, has the percentage of median income-under 25 years in the intermediate range of other counties in the local area at $59,191 of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of median income-25 to 44 years at $75,625 of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has in the mid range of other counties in the greater region in order of median income-45 to 64 years at $40,543 of the total.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Pleasants County has the largest proportion of self employment income at 33.2% of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the smallest proportion of investment and retirement income at 8.0% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of social security at 0.3% 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 27.9% which is the smallest when sorted by households with retirement income of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Tyler County which shows a households with retirement income of 39.2% (40.6% 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 $76,625 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. Pleasants County depicts it has the hightest cost of 100.7 for the cost of transportation category.

Pleasants 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 shows that from February 2010 to before the Coronavirus Pandemic the monthly unemployment rate went from 12.8% to 9.7% in February 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 24.2%. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 5.9% This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 39.2%. 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 Wuhan virus Pandemic the monthly labor force participation went from 2,988 to 2,754 in March 2020. This represents a decrease in the monthly labor force participation of 7.8%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 2,721 This represents a decrease 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 Pleasants County shows it has a Unemployment Rate of 3.7% which is the largest of all counties in the greater Pleasants County region. Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Pleasants County depicts it has a Labor Force Participation of 54.4% which is the third most of all other counties in the local 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). Pleasants County has the largest proportion of employed at 3.7% 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. Pleasants County shows full time employees quite a bit 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 Pleasants County area. Pleasants County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 24.1% which is the smallest when sorted by families with a single earner of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with a single earner in the area is Doddridge County which shows a single earners rate of 39.9% (65.4% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Pleasants County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 23.2% which is the second smallest as measured by families with no one working of all the other counties in the surrounding region. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Tyler County which shows a families with no worker of 36.7% (58.6% larger).

Pleasants County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Pleasants 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. Pleasants County indicates it has a Total In Poverty of 527 which is the smallest when ranked by total people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Wood County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 12,360 ( appreciably bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Pleasants County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 7.4% which is the smallest when ranked by percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the greater region. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Ritchie County which shows a percent of people in poverty of 18.2% (approximately 2.4 times bigger).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Pleasants County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 12 to 17 years at 11% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 30% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 35 to 54 years at 20% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of person in poverty 55 to 64 years at 25% of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Pleasants County has the smallest proportion of married with children and in poverty at 17% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of unmarried with children and in poverty at 20% 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.) Pleasants County depicts it has a Public Assistance Percent of 12.1% which is the second smallest in order of households with public assistance of all the other counties in the area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Wood County which depicts a households with public assistance of 16.5% (36.4% larger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Pleasants County shows it has a Gini Index of 55.5% which is ranked #1 of all counties in the metro area.

Pleasants 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 Pleasants 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.) Pleasants County has the smallest proportion of people who take public transportation to work at 1% of the total. Figure 33 shows a more detailed view of how the population commutes to work for (for example to downtown Pleasants County or elsewhere.) Pleasants County has the smallest proportion of people who walked at 1% of the total.

In Figure 35 is shown a frequency distribution of the time that people leave for work. Pleasants County has one of the largest proportions of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am at 9% of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Tyler County (9%), and #1 Doddridge County (10%) are larger. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 5am to 530am at 9% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 530 am to 6am at 16% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 6am to 630am at 6% of the total. In addition, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 730 am to 8am at 4% of the total. Furthermore, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm 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. Pleasants County has the percentage of people with commute time of less than 5 minutesutes in the middle range of other counties in the metropolitan area at 10% of the total. Second, it has less than most other counties in the greater region when ranked by people with commute time between 5 to 9 minutes at 11% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 25 to 29 minutes at 20% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Pleasants County shows it has a Avg Commute Time of 27 which is less than most other counties in the greater region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Pleasants County depicts average commute time in minutes for men approximately 2.3 times bigger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Pleasants County has the percentage of no vehicle available the second smallest as measured by no vehicle available of all the other counties in the metropolitan area at 12% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 50% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of 3 vehicles available at 7% of the total. Also, it has less than most other counties in the greater region in terms of 4 vehicles available at 3% of the total. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Pleasants County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 30% which is less than most other counties in the area. The county with the highest people who both work and live in the same city in the area is Wood County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 38% (26.9% larger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Pleasants County is approximately three-fourths the size. Also, benchmarked against the state of West Virginia, people who both work and live in the same city of 36%, Pleasants County is about 20.8% smaller.

Pleasants 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. Pleasants County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $117,917 for the management, business, and financial occupations group. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Pleasants County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $56,500 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations classification. The table in Figure 48, shows Pleasants County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Pleasants 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. Pleasants County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 43% for the self employed in production, transportation, and material moving 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. Pleasants County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 64% 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. Pleasants County shows it has a Self Employment Income of $56,810 which is more than all other counties in the greater region. Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Pleasants County is 34.8% larger. Also, in comparison with the state of West Virginia, average annual self employment income of $33,509, Pleasants County is 69.5% larger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Pleasants County depicts total number of self-employed men about the same size as the total number of self-employed women.