Economic Research and Data

Regional Research and Data

Analysis, commentary, and data on issues that concern the residents and businesses of the eastern Midwest — Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Latest indicators

Unemployment

Fourth District unemployment rate,
January (SA): 5.6%

State unemployment rate, January (SA):
   Ohio: 5.5%
   Kentucky: 5.2%
   Pennsylvania: 4.8%
   West Virginia: 4.4%

   United States: 4.9%

Employment

Fourth District employment growth, December to January (SA): -0.60%

State employment growth, December to January (SA):
   Ohio: 0.10%
   Kentucky: 0.50%
   Pennsylvania: 0.80%
   West Virginia: -0.30%
   United States: 0.00%

Income

Per capita personal income, 3rd quarter, 2007:
   Ohio:
   $35,025.20
   Kentucky:
   $31,501.90
   Pennsylvania:
   $38,880.30
   West Virginia:
   $29,498.00

   United States:
   $38,732.00

SA = seasonally adjusted

NOTE: Fourth District employment growth numbers are not comparable to state and U.S. numbers due to differences in survey methods.

Features

Labor Force Participation in the United States and Ohio.The U.S. labor force participation rate has risen markedly since World War II, thanks to the baby boom and the increasing number of women workers. Lately, curious differences in the participation patterns of various age groups are affecting the overall participation rate. (03.11.08)

Commentary

In-depth examinations of economic and financial issues of interest to the region.

Regional variation in job creation and destruction
As companies and consumers adapt to a changing marketplace, jobs are eliminated and new ones are created. Rates at which this happens vary across states and reflect the flexibility of the labor market. More flexible markets are associated with faster growth. (09.15.07)

The growth of cities in the Fourth District
Recent research suggests that the educational attainment of residents is critical to population growth, particularly for cities in the Northeast and Midwest. (08.01.07)

A closer look at Cleveland’s latest poverty ranking
Cleveland is the poorest big city in the United States according to the Census Bureau, with nearly a third of the city’s residents living in poverty. These numbers have received a lot of attention since they were released, but unfortunately, they are easily misinterpreted. (02.15.07)

Human capital and the challenge of persistent poverty in Appalachia
Recent research suggests that investments in human-capital development may provide the key to reducing persistent poverty in regions such as Appalachia. (02.01.07)

Altered states: A perspective on 75 years of state income growth
Why do residents of some states have higher incomes than residents of other states? Why have these income differences persisted for the past 75 years? This essay seeks to answer these questions by illuminating the disparities between states in terms of income, education, and technology. (06.06)