The percentage and number of working adults are important indicators of economic health and a community's well being. As indicators of economic conditions, they can be used in conjunction with unemployment figures to gauge economic recovery. They can also provide insight into the level of social and economic capital that may exist in a community. With North Carolina's growing population, it is important to consider both employment rates as well as changes in the number of employed adults.
Employment rates in North Carolina have been similar to the national rates over time, slightly higher in 2000 (74.2 percent compared with 72.8 percent) and slightly lower for the 2008-2010 timeframe (69.4 percent vs. 71.1 percent). Cities around the economic hubs of Charlotte and the Research Triangle (Apex, Matthews, Holly Springs, Cary, Huntersville, Garner, and Cornelius in particular) have consistently had the highest employment rates. Seven cities (Lumberton, Goldsboro, Elizabeth City, Lexington, New Bern, Salisbury, and Shelby) consistently had the lowest employment rates amongst the cities in this report.
To calculate the employment rate for each city we divided the number of employed 25 to 64 year olds (including those employed in the Armed Services) by the number of 25 to 64 year olds. Institutionalized adults are not included in these calculations. We chose to look at 25 to 64 year olds primarily to avoid the potential impacts of students on employment figures.
The American Community Survey defines the labor force as people who are employed, members of the United States Armed Forces, and the unemployed (not working but actively seeking employment). It is also critical to recognize that anywhere from 15 to 35 percent of the 25-64 year old population may not be part of the labor force. It counts a person as employed if they worked full time or part time during the week of they were surveyed. The American Community Survey data reflects the percentage of adults living in a city who are employed. They aren't necessarily employed in the city where they live, but clearly it is much better for a city to have a higher rather than a lower employment rate. Go here for more detailed information on how the Census Bureau defines "labor force" and "employed".
Employment rates were calculated from the following sources and tables for the referenced years: