Cincinnati was undoubtedly hurt by the last recession, but it was affected less than the U.S. or Ohio, at least where employment is concerned. Throughout the recovery, Cincinnati’s employment fell more slowly than the rest of the U.S. and for fewer weeks. Moreover, since the last business cycle peak in March 2001, the city has added about 1% to its nonfarm employment (roughly the same rate as the U.S. average). Ohio, in contrast, suffered a 3% loss.
Payroll Employment, Cincinnati MSA
Much of Cincinnati’s recent employment growth has occurred in goods-producing rather than service-providing industries. Goods-producing employment grew 2.0% during the year, compared to a 0.7% gain in service-providing employment. Among the big gainers were natural resources, mining, and construction; professional and business services; and education and health services. The leisure and hospitality industry, however, declined over the year.
Location Quotients, 2004
Cincinnati’s industrial mix of employment differs markedly from the nation’s in several ways: The share of its employment occupied in natural resources and mining is nearly triple that of the U.S. It also has a significantly smaller share of employment in the construction and information industries.
Selected Demographics, 2004
As for demographics, Cincinnati and Ohio have similar shares of minority residents. However, Cincinnati has a smaller percentage of residents 65 and older, and a larger percentage with a bachelor’s degree.
Cincinnati MSA¹
Ohio
U.S.
Total Population (millions)
2.1
11.2
285.7
Percent by race
White
85.3
85.7
77.3
Black or African-American
11.7
12.3
12.8
Other American
3.0
1.9
9.9
Percent by age
0 to 19
29.4
26.7
27.9
20 to 34
20.7
19.1
20.3
35 to 64
38.3
39.9
39.8
65 or older
11.7
12.5
12.0
Percent with bachelor's degree or higher
24.8
23.3
27.0
Median Age
35.2
37.5
36.2
¹The Cincinnati–Hamilton metropolitan statistical area consists of Dearborn, Franklin, and Ohio counties in Indiana; Boone, Bracken, Campbell, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton counties in Kentucky; and Brown, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties in Ohio.
Cincinnati was undoubtedly hurt by the last recession, but it was affected less than the U.S. or Ohio, at least where employment is concerned. Throughout the recovery, Cincinnati’s employment fell more slowly than the rest of the U.S. and for fewer weeks. Moreover, since the last business cycle peak in March 2001, the city has added about 1% to its nonfarm employment (roughly the same rate as the U.S. average). Ohio, in contrast, suffered a 3% loss.
Much of Cincinnati’s recent employment growth has occurred in goods-producing rather than service-providing industries. Goods-producing employment grew 2.0% during the year, compared to a 0.7% gain in service-providing employment. Among the big gainers were natural resources, mining, and construction; professional and business services; and education and health services. The leisure and hospitality industry, however, declined over the year.
Cincinnati’s industrial mix of employment differs markedly from the nation’s in several ways: The share of its employment occupied in natural resources and mining is nearly triple that of the U.S. It also has a significantly smaller share of employment in the construction and information industries.