Economic recovery advances across counties yet gaps in opportunity remain
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new in-depth analysis reveals that economic recovery accelerated on the ground over the past year, but challenges remain. 2015 was a year of strong growth; however, most county economies have not recovered to pre-recession levels on jobs and unemployment. Additionally, between 2009 and 2014, real wage growth has not always kept pace with productivity gains.
County Economies 2015: Opportunities and Challenges, released today by the National Association of Counties (NACo), tracks annual changes in 2015 in four key economic performance indicators across the nation’s 3,069 county economies. The performance indicators are: economic output (GDP), employment, unemployment rates and home prices. The new analysis also explores wage dynamics in 2014 and between 2009 and 2014.
“Despite the economic rebound in some areas across the country, the majority of our counties' families are still struggling financially,” said NACo President Sallie Clark. “Counties are the foundation and the building blocks of our community, regional, statewide and national economies. Strong county economies help to create healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods by providing vital services for our citizens."