For the Columbus economy July 2022 report, we find several local industries in record high territory, but with a metro labor force that is barely growing. The data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Overall Metro Area July 2022 and Change from July 2021 Labor Force: 1,136,345 +1,050 Employed: 1,093,966 +13,074 Unemployed: 42,379 -12,024 Unemployment Rate: 3.7% -1.1 Total Non-Farm Jobs: 1,126,200 +16,400 Numbers continued the trend of improvement year-over-year, but labor force growth remained relatively slow.
Overall Metro Area July 2022 and Change from February 2020 (Pre-Pandemic) Labor Force: 1,136,345 +15,541 Employed: 1,093,966 +17,126 Unemployed: 42,379 -1,585 Unemployment Rate: 3.7% -0.2 Total Non-Farm Jobs: 1,126,200 +14,800 The overall metro area remained better in July than the last month prior to the pandemic.
Now let’s view the results by industry.
Mining/Logging/Construction 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 45,200————46,800———48,200 These industries remain near their all-time highs for total metro jobs. Mining/Logging/Construction Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020————7/2021———7/2022 4.3——————4.2————–4.3
Manufacturing 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 70,100———–72,700———-72,900 Manufacturing has largely recovered from pandemic losses, but remains well below historic highs achieved decades ago. Manufacturing Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020————7/2021———-7/2022 6.7——————6.6—————6.5
Trade/Transportation/Utilities 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 215,000———-225,400———240,200 These industries are at historic highs. Trade/Transportation/Utilities Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020————7/2021———7/2022 20.4—————–20.3———–21.3
Information 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 15,300———–16,000———-17,000 While nowhere near previous highs of the late 1990s-early 2000s “Dot.com” boom, this industry has been steadily growing since it hit a pandemic bottom in late 2020, and has returned to levels last seen in 2019. Information Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020————7/2021———-7/2022 1.5——————1.4—————1.5
Financial Activities 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 85,200———–85,900———-85,600 Financial jobs initially recovered from the pandemic recession, but then in late 2021 through part of 2022 plummeted to their lowest levels in 6 years. However, since May, they have been shooting back up and are once again close to historic highs. Financial Activities Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020————7/2021———-7/2022 8.1——————7.7—————7.6
Professional and Business Services 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 172,800———-183,800———181,200 These industries have been hovering around their highs since about 2015, so it seems like these jobs have not been changing much in recent years. Professional and Business Services Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 16.4—————-16.6————–16.1
Education and Health Services 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 152,100———-159,800———161,800 While these industries have not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, they are relatively close to doing so. Education and Health Services Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 14.4—————-14.4————-14.4
Leisure and Hospitality 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 90,600———–105,600————108,000 This industry should be near historic highs by the holiday season, despite being hit the hardest during the recent recession. Leisure and Hospitality Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020————7/2021————7/2022 8.6——————9.5——————9.6
Other Services 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 37,400———–41,100———-41,900 This industry is near historic highs. Other Services Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 3.5—————–3.7—————-3.7
Government 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 170,100———-172,700———169,400 Government jobs have been in a slow decline since the pandemic recession. Government Jobs as a % of Total Metro Jobs 7/2020———–7/2021———-7/2022 16.1—————15.6————–15.0
Continuing with the data from the 2020 Census, we break down the population rank for every community and census-designated place in the Columbus metro area. Census-designated places are areas with concentrations of population, but are not part of incorporated villages, towns or cities.
The main story with the 2020 census numbers is that smaller communities in rural counties generally declined the past decade. This followed a similar story with non-metro counties, not only in Ohio, but nationally. Population continues to concentrate closer to more urban areas, which tend to be the job centers. If such population declines continue in the decades ahead, many of these small towns and villages may die out.
These trends also have potential impacts on the upcoming state redistricting. With conservative, rural areas emptying out and more liberal cities and urban areas growing, how will this affect how congressional districts get drawn?
