Employment & Labor Market

With just 3,322 total jobs and government accounting for nearly a third of them (1,055 jobs), the local economy is small, concentrated, and vulnerable to public-sector budget shifts. Average earnings sit at $53,043 across all industries, but government workers earn significantly more at $76,157 — underscoring how dependent household income is on a single sector. Overall employment declined 3.1% over five years, though projections suggest a 5.0% rebound ahead.

The bright spots are real but early-stage. Professional and Technical Services grew 36%, Administrative Services 42.5%, and the Information sector 38% — likely fueled by remote work migration into the region. These are exactly the kinds of jobs that can diversify the economy beyond government and seasonal work, but they're growing from a tiny base. Capturing this momentum requires deliberate action: reliable broadband, coworking infrastructure, and business support services that help remote professionals and small firms establish roots.

The regional picture adds context. District-wide employment growth trails the national average (0.7% vs. 1.3% annually), and the workforce faces persistent skills mismatches. For a county this small, even modest wins — a few dozen new professional-sector jobs, a successful business retention push — move the needle meaningfully. The recommended workforce gap analysis should be a near-term priority.