Putnam County Income Charts

This section shows the Putnam 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, Putnam County depicts it has a Median earnings of $54,586 which is the largest of all counties in the greater Putnam County region. Comparing median earnings per worker to the United States average of $53,269, Putnam County is only slightly larger. Also, measured against the state of West Virginia, median earnings per worker of $44,509, Putnam County is 22.6% larger.

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 $68,740 which is the highest of all counties in the greater Putnam County region. Comparing median household income to the United States average of $69,021, Putnam County is about the same size. Also, in comparison with the state of West Virginia, median household income of $50,884, Putnam County is 35.1% larger.

The next section examines a variety of different income statistics for the Putnam County metropolitan area. In Figure 3 we see that it has the smallest proportion of earnings less than $10,000 at 5.8% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of earnings between $15,000 and $19,999 at 29.3% of the total. Third, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $50,000 and $74,999 at 11.5% of the total and is ranked #1. Also, it has the largest proportion of earnings between $75,000 and $99,999 at 11.4% 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 39.3 which is the third most average hours of all other counties in the greater Putnam County region. The county with the highest average hours in the area is Jackson County which depicts an average hours of 40.0 ( 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 $26.71 which is the highest of all counties in the metro area. Comparing average hourly earnings to the United States average of $26.40, Putnam County is only slightly larger. Also, benchmarked against the state of West Virginia, average hourly earnings of $21.95, Putnam County is 21.7% larger.

Figure 7 examines the number of self employed people in the Putnam County metro area based on the number of people who reported any self employment income. Putnam County shows it has a Self Employed of 6.2% which is the second most people self employed of all the counties in the greater Putnam County region. The county with the highest percentage of people self employed in the area is Gallia County which depicts a percentage self employed of 8.5% (38.2% larger).

Turning our attention to Figure 8, the median household income by age group, it has the largest proportion of median income-under 25 years at $86,362 of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has the largest proportion of median income-25 to 44 years at $80,143 of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the largest proportion of median income-45 to 64 years at $48,261 of the total and is ranked #1.

Figure 9 breaks down the source of income and Putnam County has the smallest proportion of self employment income at 13.6% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of investment and retirement income at 10.2% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of social security at 0.4% 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 29.0% which is the third most households with retirement income of all other counties in the greater Putnam County region. The county with the highest households with retirement income in the area is Jackson County which depicts a households with retirement income of 29.7% ( only slightly 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 $85,149 of the total and is ranked #1. Second, it has one of the largest proportions of white family income at $25,963 of the total and is ranked #3. Only #2 Kanawha County ($42,979), and #1 Gallia County ($105,217) are larger. Third, it has one of the largest proportions of american indian family income at $80,804 of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Kanawha County with $142,000.

Figure 13 shows the cost of living and other consumer spending categories for a variety of cost components from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Putnam County depicts it has the hightest cost of 102.9 for the cost of transportation grouping.

Putnam 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 depicts that from January 2017 to before the COVID-19 Pandemic it went from 5.4% to 5.4% in March 2020. This represents an increase in the monthly unemployment rate of very little. Since that time, the monthly unemployment rate has gone to 3.0%. This represents a decrease in the monthly unemployment rate of 44.4%. 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 25,561 to 26,930 in November 2019. This represents an increase in the monthly labor force participation of 5.4%. Since that time, the monthly labor force participation has gone to 26,949. 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 Putnam County depicts it has a Unemployment Rate of 2.1% which is less than most other counties in the local area. The county with the highest unemployment rate in the area is Kanawha County which depicts a rate of 3.3% (52.5% larger). Figure 17 shows the labor force participation using the estimated percentage of people either working or actively looking for work. Putnam County shows it has a Labor Force Participation of 59.6% which is more than all other counties in the greater Putnam County region.

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). Putnam County has the smallest proportion of unemployed at 40.4% of the total.

The percentage of full-time workers are compared to the number of part-time workers in Figure 19. Putnam 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 Putnam County area. Putnam County shows it has a Single Earner Families of 25.8% which is the smallest in terms 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 Lincoln County which depicts a single earners rate of 37.8% (46.4% larger). The percentage of families with no one working is depicted in Figure 22. Putnam County depicts it has a Families with No One Working of 24.1% which is in the mid range of other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest families with no one working in the area is Lincoln County which shows a families with no worker of 30.1% (24.8% larger).

Putnam County Poverty Charts

The next section details economy analysis about poverty for residents of the Putnam 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. Putnam County depicts it has a Total In Poverty of 5,957 which is the third most total people earning less than the poverty level of all other counties in the greater Putnam County region. The county with the highest total people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Kanawha County which depicts a total people earning less than the poverty level of 29,453 (approximately 4.9 times bigger).

In Figure 24 the percentage of people earning less than the poverty level is shown and compared across the group of places. Putnam County shows it has a Percent of Population In Poverty of 10.5% which is the smallest when sorted by percent of people earning less than the poverty level of all the other counties in the metropolitan area. The county with the highest percent of people earning less than the poverty level in the area is Cabell County which depicts a percent of people in poverty of 21.2% (about twice as large).

In Figure 25 people who are in poverty are broken out by age group. Putnam County has the smallest proportion of person in poverty 18 to 34 years at 17% of the total.

The next chart, Figure 26, shows the percentage of people in poverty by racial group. Putnam County has one of the largest proportions of american indian poverty rate at 19% of the total and is ranked #2. The only larger county being Cabell County with 25%. Second, it has the second smallest as measured by white poverty rate of all the other counties in the local area as measured by hawaiian poverty rate at 7% of the total.

Figure 27 shows key poverty statistics for groups based on marriage status. Putnam County has the percentage of unmarried female with children and in poverty less than most other counties in the metro area at 12% of the total.

The next chart looks at the percentage of people in poverty based on their education level in Figure 28 marriage status. Putnam County has the smallest proportion of less than highschool in poverty at 8% of the total. Second, it has the smallest proportion of highschool graduate and in poverty at 8% of the total. Third, it has the smallest proportion of has some college and in poverty at 2% 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. Putnam County has the largest proportion of people who are in poverty and unemployed at 25.3% 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.) Putnam County shows it has a Public Assistance Percent of 11.5% which is the smallest as measured by households with public assistance of all the other counties in the metro area. The county with the highest households with public assistance in the area is Lincoln County which depicts a households with public assistance of 27.7% (approximately 2.4 times bigger).

Figure 31 shows the "Gini Index of Income Inequality" with a range from zero (perfect equality) to one (perfect inequality). Putnam County depicts it has a Gini Index of 42.6% which is the smallest when ranked by the gini index of all the other counties in the metro area.

Putnam 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 Putnam 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.) Putnam 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 Putnam County or elsewhere.) Putnam 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. Putnam County has the percentage of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am the second smallest in order of people who leave for work between 12am to 5am of all the other counties in the local area at 3% of the total. Second, it has the largest proportion of people who leave for work between 630 am to 7am at 18% of the total and is ranked #1. Third, it has the smallest proportion of people who leave for work between 12noon to 4pm at 6% of the total.

The next graph in Figure 36 shows the average number of minutes that it takes for people to commute to work. Putnam County has the largest proportion of people with commute time between 20 to 24 minutes at 10% of the total and is ranked #1.

The average commute time is shown in Figure 37. Putnam County depicts it has a Avg Commute Time of 28 which is the third most average commute time of all other counties in the greater Putnam County region. Figure 38 shows the difference between male versus female commuting time. Putnam County depicts average commute time in minutes for men 31.4% larger as the average commute time in minutes for women. Figure 40 shows the total number of vehicles available for transportation and Putnam County has the largest proportion of 1 vehicle available at 46% of the total and is ranked #1. Figure 41 shows the percentage of people who both work and live in the same city (town or place.) Putnam County depicts it has a Work in city or place where live of 19% which is the smallest when ranked 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 Cabell County which depicts a people who both work and live in the same city of 51% (approximately 2.7 times bigger). Comparing people who both work and live in the same city to the United States average of 44%, Putnam County is approximately half the size. Also, in contrast to the state of West Virginia, people who both work and live in the same city of 36%, Putnam County is approximately half the size.

Putnam 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. Putnam County depicts it has the hightest median earnings of $89,362 for the earnings-healthcare practitioners and tech occupations classification. Similarly, Figure 47 shows the median earnings of women for the job categories and Putnam County shows it has the hightest median earnings of $86,471 for the earnings-computer, engineering, and science occupations category. The table in Figure 48, shows Putnam County employment data in terms of job categories and salary data.

Putnam 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. Putnam County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 58% for the self employed management, business, science, and arts 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. Putnam County depicts it has the hightest entrepreneurs of 33% for the self employed in retail trade classification.

In Figure 51 the average annual self employment/entrepreneur income is shown. Putnam County depicts it has a Self Employment Income of $39,615 which is the second most average annual self employment income of all the counties in the greater Putnam County region. The county with the highest average annual self employment income in the area is Cabell County which shows an average annual self employment income of $42,996 (8.5% larger). Comparing average annual self employment income to the United States average of $42,141, Putnam County is about 6.4% smaller. Also, measured against the state of West Virginia, average annual self employment income of $33,509, Putnam County is 18.2% larger.

Figure 52 shows the difference between the number of self employed men and self employed women (i.e. entrepreneurs.) Putnam County shows total number of self-employed men 72.1% larger as the total number of self-employed women.