Commuting in Commuting in Middle GeorgiaMiddle Georgia

Commuting & Jobs• The inflow of commuters indicates the reliance of a

county’s businesses on the quality & quantity of the labor force in other counties.

• The outflow of commuters indicates the reliance of a county’s residents on the quality & quantity of jobs in other counties

• Counties with a lot of good jobs will attract workers living in other counties

• The better the jobs, the more a long commute makes sense • Better jobs may attract new residents escaping long

commutes• Commuting enhances the regional diversity of jobs

available & labor supply

On the Map Data• OnTheMap is an internet application that shows

where workers are employed and where they live• The employment data come from

Unemployment Insurance Wage Records reported by employers.

• The states assign employer locations, while workers' residence locations are assigned by the Census Bureau using data from multiple federal agencies.

• Counts workers (called “primary jobs”), not jobs• Geographies are adjustable

The data does not cover

• Self employed (about 7% Nationally)

• Federal government employees (about 2% Nationally)

• The military (about 0.5% Nationally)

• Some nonprofit employees

• Workers covered by RR unemployment insurance

• Wage and salary agricultural employees

• Domestic workers • Unpaid family workers

Implications

• The Self employed are more likely to live & work in the same county, so– People who live & work in the same county are

likely to be undercounted

• Federal government civilian & military employment is a major factor in Houston County’s employment at 20,938, so – Employment counts for counties whose residents

work at RAFB are incomplete

Where Workers Live who are Employed in Middle Ga: 2008

Where Workers are Employed who Live in Middle Ga: 2008

Where Workers Live who are Employed in Middle Georgia

Where Workers are Employed who Live in Middle Georgia

Bibb 44,532 25.8% Bibb 59,236 33.6%

Houston 34,230 19.8% Houston 29,845 16.9%

Baldwin 11,539 6.7% Baldwin 12,167 6.9%

Jones 8,494 4.9% Fulton 6,586 3.7%

Peach 6,293 3.6% Peach 5,441 3.1%

Monroe 5,716 3.3% Monroe 4,834 2.7%

Putnam 4,395 2.5% Putnam 3,971 2.3%

Crawford 2,652 1.5% DeKalb 3,701 2.1%

Monroe County Monroe County OnTheMapOnTheMapEmployment Locations of Residents

Have you ever wondered?

• How much a county depends on its neighbors for earnings?

• Or loses due to outside commuters?• Who wins, loses or breaks even?• Commuter earnings data from the BEA makes

every attempt to be comprehensive in counting commuters & their earnings

What are Earnings?

• Earnings are wages & salaries, supplements to wages & salaries, & proprietors’ income

• Supplements include employer contributions for employee pension and insurance funds employer payments to private & government employee retirement plans, private group health, life, workers' comp & unemployment benefit plans.

CountyCounty

By Place of WorkBy Place of Work By ResidenceBy ResidenceResidence Residence Earnings as Earnings as a % of Place a % of Place

of Work of Work EarningsEarnings

2008 Earnings

Per Cent of Total

2008 Earnings

Per Cent of Total

Bibb $4,526,529 41.2% $3,262,336 33.0% 72.1%Houston $3,880,489 35.3% $3,008,172 30.4% 77.5%Baldwin $862,656 7.8% $725,392 7.3% 84.1%Peach $437,984 4.0% $483,922 4.9% 110.5%Putnam $345,720 3.1% $395,300 4.0% 114.3%Monroe $305,299 2.8% $626,952 6.3% 205.4%Jones $183,279 1.7% $632,405 6.4% 345.1%Wilkinson $167,766 1.5% $149,216 1.5% 88.9%Pulaski $137,860 1.3% $184,169 1.9% 133.6%Crawford $89,820 0.8% $247,840 2.5% 275.9%Twiggs $58,180 0.5% $165,261 1.7% 284.1%

Neighbor Neighbor Dependence?Dependence?

Inflow of Commuter Earnings in 2008Inflow of Commuter Earnings in 2008

Middle Georgia CountiesInflow

In $000's

As a % of Earnings by

ResidenceJones $ 524,046 80.1%Crawford $ 199,868 77.6%Twiggs $ 130,534 75.2%Monroe $ 448,437 67.9%Peach $ 269,626 51.0%Pulaski $ 100,469 50.3%Wilkinson $ 79,713 47.1%Putnam $ 158,272 36.7%Baldwin $ 144,633 17.8%Bibb $ 622,643 16.6%Houston $ 544,656 16.0%

Earnings Earnings Drain?Drain?

Outflow of Commuter Earnings in 2008Outflow of Commuter Earnings in 2008

Middle Georgia Counties

Outflow In $000's

As a % of Earnings by

Place of WorkWilkinson $ 78,085 46.5%Peach $ 178,472 40.7%Crawford $ 32,182 35.8%Bibb $ 1,389,936 30.7%Monroe $ 92,998 30.5%Jones $ 53,481 29.2%Pulaski $ 38,711 28.1%Houston $ 1,027,183 26.5%Twiggs $ 15,140 26.0%Baldwin $ 193,085 22.4%Putnam $ 72,865 21.1%

Commuter Commuter Profit Profit or Loss?or Loss?

Net Flow of Commuter Earnings in 2008Net Flow of Commuter Earnings in 2008

Middle Georgia Counties

Net Flow In $000's

As a % of Earnings by

Place of Residence

Jones $ 470,565 72.0%Twiggs $ 115,394 66.5%Crawford $ 167,686 65.1%Monroe $ 355,439 53.8%Pulaski $ 61,758 30.9%Putnam $ 85,407 19.8%Peach $ 91,154 17.2%Wilkinson $ 1,628 1.0%Baldwin $ (48,452) -6.0%Houston $ (482,527) -14.2%Bibb $ (767,293) -20.4%

Some ConclusionsSome Conclusions• Every county has its own unique commuter profile• Profile variables include job availability, job type, proximity to outside

opportunities, industry developments, etc.• Bibb, Houston & Baldwin have been job & income sources for other

counties• Our other counties have been labor supply sources

– In $ terms, Jones & Monroe especially– In terms of % of resident earnings, Twiggs & Crawford also– Jones leads in the share of its earnings it gets from other counties– For Twiggs outflow of earnings declined radically as place of work earnings

dropped 48%; residents responded by finding jobs in other counties & their income went up over 7%.

• Wilkinson has broken even on earnings flow, but leads in the share of county-generated earnings leaving the county followed by Peach & Crawford, 2 counties with the highest & lowest share of wage & salary employment