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People and Households
We study and report on demographic trends in the district, the financial health of residents, and topics that affect the economic well-being of households and communities.
Recent Articles
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Toledo—Economy Rebounds
Several measures—the number of jobs, the unemployment rate, output per person, and median personal income—indicate the economy of the Toledo metro area has essentially bounced back to where it was at the end of 2015. This represents a recovery from the 2017 closure of the Jeep Cherokee plant that reduced the number of jobs and increased the unemployment rate in the region. Read More
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Columbus—Labor Market Cruising at a Slightly Slower Pace
The Columbus metro area’s economy is sturdy, with a low and relatively stable unemployment rate. Total employment grew at a slower rate recently than the metro area’s average pace in the current economic expansion, but the growth was broad-based across sectors. Read More
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Population, Migration, and Generations in Urban Neighborhoods
The number of people living in urban neighborhoods has been rising in recent decades. This Commentary investigates changes in the number, ages, and financial status of those who have been moving into and out of urban neighborhoods, using data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York/Equifax Consumer Credit Panel. I find that since 2000, the increase in urban populations is the result of young adults migrating into urban neighborhoods and senior citizens aging in place. Urban populations have also become more educated and well to do. While declining urban neighborhoods may still outnumber growing urban neighborhoods within some regions, urban leaders there can work toward population or tax base growth knowing that consumer tastes and national trends are favorable to those goals. Read More
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12 Facts about Temporary Urbanists
Urban areas seem to be enjoying a renaissance of sorts due in part to the many young professionals who have moved into central neighborhoods since the 2000s. Many of these young professionals are thought to move back out after they have started families, but the details of these migration patterns are not well-known. I analyze data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York/Equifax Consumer Credit Panel to answer 12 questions about these temporary urbanists—those who choose to move into an urban neighborhood and spend part of their early adulthood there. Read More
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Pittsburgh—Job Market Strengthens
Adding enough jobs to accommodate a larger labor force is just one way the Pittsburgh metro area’s economy strengthened: Both GDP per capita and income per capita rose, too. Read More