2020-21 Charleston Regional Economic Scorecard

TRACKING ECONOMIC PROGRESS IN BERKELEY, CHARLESTON AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES

2020-2021 REGIONAL ECONOMIC

SCORECARD E

NG

I L V A | B T I L N IT Y | E L A T | WEL Y M L -BE O N I CO

Produced for the community by:

VIEW ONLINE: CRDA.ORG/ECONOMICSCORECARD OR CHARLESTONCHAMBER.ORG/ECONOMICSCORECARD

ABOUT THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD This report tracks economic performance and competitiveness in the three-county Charleston region as compared to U.S. metro areas with similar competitive assets. The report uses a 2005 baseline for most metrics to show changes over time.

Due to data lag, the most recent annual indicators are from 2018 and 2019.

With the outsized impacts of COVID-19, this report includes “point in time” data to show how our region is performing during the global pandemic and provides insights into Charleston’s economic recovery.

Launched in spring 2016, One Region calls for the region to take a more holistic, inclusive, and dynamic approach to economic development.

The strategy is built on four shared values to align the community’s efforts.

One Region provides the roadmap to a globally competitive future.

This Scorecard is a tool to measure progress along the way.

One Region Values: • A strong, resilient economy • Attainable opportunities for all residents to live, learn and earn • Balancing growth with nurturing our unique character • Being a connected community One Region is led by a coalition of business, healthcare, governmental, and nonprofit leaders. This group is working to update and expand the strategy with a focus on economic recovery.

OneRegionStrategy.com

MORE INCLUSIVE ECONOMIES ARE STRONGER ECONOMIES A recent report by global consulting firm Ernst & Young shows communities with higher levels of racial inclusivity enjoy greater levels of employment growth.

When more people have access to quality education, good jobs, and business opportunities, local economies grow faster, stronger, and for longer periods of time. Building a more inclusive economy requires broad-based, coordinated solutions to address numerous complex issues.

EDUCATION

accessibility; attainment; quality

EMPLOYMENT

accessibility; mobility; wage gap

HOUSING

TRANSPORTATION

affordability; proximity accessibility; to transportation, infrastructure; proximity schools, jobs to housing, schools, jobs

EQUITY

data-driven, disaggregated understanding of who is not sharing in the region’s success Source: Brookings Institution

2

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

CHARLESTON DATA DASHBOARD Color of indicator box reflects change since 2005. Rankings are compared to peers.

CHANGE IN INDICATOR VALUE:

ECONOMY

= Better

= Worse

= No change

$43 billion

$11 billion Exports

Self-Employed

Unemployment Rate

#8

#2

#2

#1

Gross Regional Product

67,334

2.4%

TALENT Associate's Degree or Higher

47%

Prime Working-Age Population

330,530

22,740

170% Growth

#4

#6

#6

#5

STEM Jobs

Remote Workers

LIVABILITY

81.1%

Commuters Driving Alone

#9

$1,563

Housing Cost: Owner (median)

#6

#6 LAST YEAR

$1,212

Housing Cost: Renter (median)

#6

82%

Households with Broadband

#9

#8 LAST YEAR

WELL-BEING

3,243

Healthcare Professionals per 100K population

#2

88.6%

Health Insurance Coverage

#8

#4 LAST YEAR

$70,505

10.7%

Median Household Income

Poverty Rate

#5

#7

COMPARATIVE COMMUNITIES These metros have similar economic assets to Charleston and are often in the competitive mix for corporate location decisions.

All are growing faster than the U.S. average (10.5%). Fastest growing: Austin (52%), Raleigh (46%), Charleston (33%).

SEATTLE

Pop. 4 million

RICHMOND Pop. 1.3 million RALEIGH Pop. 1.4 million

SALT LAKE CITY

NASHVILLE Pop. 1.9 million

Pop. 1.2 million

GREENVILLE Pop. 920,400 AUSTIN

Pop. 2.2 million

CHARLESTON Pop. 802,100 JACKSONVILLE Pop. 1.5 million

Charleston’s regional population is projected to be 1 million by 2029

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

3

ECONOMY 2005 – 2019 ECONOMY COMPOSITE RANKING

CHARLESTON

NASHVILLE GREENVILLE 6 RALEIGH 7 RICHMOND JACKSONVILLE

5

BASED ON 5 INDICATORS

Not shown: Airport Passengers Per Capita

AUSTIN SALT LAKE CITY

43

2

2

8 CHARLESTON'S IMPROVEMENT SINCE 2005

9

REAL GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT (GRP) PER CAPITA, 2018

Standard of living or prosperity measure. Value of goods & services produced per resident.

EXPORTS AS PERCENT OF GRP, 2018

Value of all purchases of U.S. goods & services by residents of foreign countries.

1. Greenville 28% 2. Charleston 26% 1. Seattle $90,380 3. Seattle 15% 2. Salt Lake City $67,640 4. Salt Lake City 10% 3. Austin $62,072 5. Austin 9% 4. Nashville $61,867 6. Nashville 7% 5. Richmond $58,949 7. Richmond 4% 6. Raleigh $55,911 7. Raleigh 4% 7. Jacksonville $48,102 9. Jacksonville 3% 8. Charleston $47,831 Source: International Trade 9. Greenville $45,331 Administration, U.S. Department of

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

Commerce

1

SELF-EMPLOYED WORKERS, 2018

Workers per 1,000 jobs.

SEATTLE

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, 2019

Percent of the labor force who are jobless.

1. Austin 208.3 2. Charleston 196.3 1. Charleston 2.4 3. Nashville 196.1 2. Salt Lake City 2.5 4. Jacksonville 186.0 3. Greenville 2.6 5. Raleigh 184.1 3. Nashville 2.6 6. Greenville 166.5 5. Austin 2.7 7. Richmond 146.8 6. Richmond 2.9 8. Seattle 142.0 7. Jacksonville 3.1 9. Salt Lake City 134.4 8. Seattle 3.3 9. Raleigh 3.4 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Charleston experienced 25% growth in selfemployment vs 17% for U.S. Indicates strong entrepreneurial environment.

Charleston’s regional prosperity and standard of living have increased

since 2005.

CHANGE IN INDICATOR VALUE:

4

= Better

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

= Worse

= No change The most recent values are compared to a 2005 baseline and do not imply year-to-year changes.

-2

es.

Stable growth and economic diversity indicate health and resilience

COVID-19 IMPACTS AND RECOVERY PROGRESS

LOCAL CONSUMER SPENDING DURING COVID, 2020

April 15 Stimulus Payments Start April 7 S.C. Stay at Home Order

20% Jan 20 First U.S. COVID-19 Case

April 21 Select Businesses Reopen in S.C.

Sept 1 Back to School Spending

Week ending Oct. 25, 2020

May 4 S.C. Stay at Home Order Ends

March 16 S.C. Public Schools Close

+2%

Charleston

+1.1%

0%

Dorchester

-3.8%

Berkeley The economic impacts from COVID-19 peaked in March and April with local consumer spending contracting more than 30%. By September and October, consumption patterns returned to more typical conditions.

-20%

Jan 15

Mar 1

Apr 1

May 1

June 1

July 1

Aug 1

Sept 1

Oct 1 Source: TrackTheRecovery.org

CHANGE IN CHARLESTON METRO EMPLOYMENT BY SECTOR,

CHANGE IN JOB OPENINGS,

By August, Charleston's employment sectors had recovered nearly all COVID-related job losses, except for Leisure & Hospitality.

Job postings are an indicator of employers' economic outlook and future job growth.

FEBRUARY VS. AUGUST 2020

FEBRUARY VS. AUGUST 2020

0%

-33.1%

Leisure & Hospitality

-9.3%

Other Services

-6.2%

Professional & Business Services

-3.7%

-3.1%

Natural Resources/Construction

-2.8%

Trade, Transportation & Utilities

-2.4%

Information

Education & Health Services

-1.0%

-0.6% Financial Activities

-0.3% Government

Manufacturing

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

0%

Austin

19.2%

Richmond

Seattle

Greenville

Raleigh

4.8%

Charleston

4.7%

12.8%

Nashville

12.6% 7.2%

0.9%

Salt Lake City -6.0% Jacksonville -7.0% Source: EMSI via Brookings Metro Recovery Index

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

5

TALENT

2005 – 2019 TALENT COMPOSITE RANKING

BASED ON 6 INDICATORS

SALT LAKE CITY NASHVILLE

CHARLESTON RICHMOND 7

JACKSONVILLE

6

54

3

8

SEATTLE

CHARLESTON'S IMPROVEMENT SINCE 2005

GREENVILLE

21

9

PRIME WORKFORCE, 2019 Population ages 25-54.

LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION, 2019 Population 16+ actively participating.

1. Austin 45.9% 2. Seattle 44.1% 3. Raleigh 42.4% 4. Nashville 42.2% 5. Salt Lake City 41.9% 6. Charleston 41.2% 7. Richmond 40.9% 8. Jacksonville 39.4% 9. Greenville 37.6%

1. Salt Lake City 72.1% 2. Austin 71.5% 3. Nashville 69.3% 3. Seattle 69.3% 5. Raleigh 68.9% 6. Richmond 66.8% 7. Charleston 65.7% 8. Jacksonville 64.1% 9. Greenville 62.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Charleston gained 69,900 residents in the

prime working age group since 2005.

All metros declined as the

STEM EMPLOYMENT, 2019

Employment in STEM (science, technology, engineering, math).

1. Seattle 12.0% 2. Raleigh 11.8% 3. Austin 11.2% 4. Salt Lake City 8.5% 5. Richmond 6.4% 6. Charleston 6.3% 7. Nashville 5.7% 8. Greenville 5.6% 9. Jacksonville 5.0%

AUSTIN RALEIGH

REMOTE WORKERS, 2019

Percentage working from home.

1. Austin 10.5 2. Raleigh 10.2 3. Nashville 7.8 4. Jacksonville 7.5 5. Charleston 6.7 6. Salt Lake City 6.5 6. Seattle 6.5 8. Richmond 5.8 9. Greenville 5.3 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

All metros are lower than 2005, but all improved since 2018.

65+ population is growing faster than all other age groups

Local STEM jobs are growing faster than non-STEM, employing

22,740 workers.

27,200 people (6.7%) worked from home in

Charleston region in 2019.

nationwide.

CHANGE IN INDICATOR VALUE:

6

= Better

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

= Worse

= No change The most recent values are compared to a 2005 baseline and do not imply year-to-year changes.

es.

Educated, skilled workforce powers the economy

47%

CHARLESTON REGION PROJECTED JOB GROWTH, 2019 - 2024 OCCUPATION CATEGORIES IN HIGHEST DEMAND

CHARLESTON

Hospitality

#4

Production And Mechanical

Logistics

2,500

Personal Services (And Retail) Construction

37.5%

2,300

1,700

28,000 NEW JOBS

These 12 categories comprise 91% of anticipated growth.

Information Technology 1,600 Business Management

CHARLESTON

#6

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

3,170

2,600

Business Operations

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

ADULTS WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE +, 2019

3,760

Medical

ADULTS WITH AN ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE +, 2019

4,100

The Life Sciences and IT sectors have experienced strong performance during the pandemic and are poised for future growth.

1,200

Education 1,000 Finance

960

Engineering 700 Source: Charleston Center for Business Research, Talent 2020 & Beyond Report

CHANGES IN CHARLESTON’S WORKFORCE DIVERSITY, 2014-2019 2014 % white

% people of color

% white

% people of color

2019 CHS Average salary

72%

28%

69%

31%

$47,800

Management

89%

11%

79%

21%

$113,900

Architecture & engineering

81%

19%

83%

17%

$81,840

Total civilian workforce age 16+

2019

Selected Occupations

Computer & mathematical (IT)

79%

21%

66%

34%

$81,460

Legal

83%

17%

92%

8%

$80,980

Healthcare practitioners & technical

77%

23%

79%

21%

$79,701

Business & financial operations

85%

15%

83%

17%

$68,450

Law enforcement

60%

40%

68%

32%

$50,580

Educational instruction

77%

23%

72%

28%

$50,250

Community & social service

68%

32%

60%

40%

$46,220

Construction & extraction

69%

31%

55%

45%

$45,120

Production

57%

43%

45%

55%

$43,310

Sales & related

75%

25%

78%

22%

$38,000

Transportation & material moving

55%

45%

49%

51%

$34,850

Healthcare support

57%

43%

48%

52%

$31,220

Building & grounds cleaning & maintenance

48%

52%

44%

56%

$27,020

Food preparation & serving related

62%

38%

63%

37%

$24,290

31+69 31%

In 2019, people of color comprised 31% of the Charleston metro’s labor force.

Two high-paying occupations — Management and IT — have diversified the most over time.

Racial diversity has declined within architecture & engineering and legal occupations.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 11/2020

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

7

LIVABILITY

2005 – 2019

LIVABILITY COMPOSITE RANKING

CHARLESTON

SALT LAKE CITY SEATTLE

6

GREENVILLE

54

3

AUSTIN

2

87

JACKSONVILLE

BASED ON 6 INDICATORS

RICHMOND

CHARLESTON'S IMPROVEMENT SINCE 2005

NASHVILLE

1

9

HOUSING COST: OWNER, 2019

Owners with incomes <$75,000 spending 30%+ on housing.

HOUSING COST: RENTER, 2019

Renters with incomes <$75,000 spending 30%+ on housing.

1. Greenville 27.8% 1. Greenville 52.1% 2. Nashville 38.0% 2. Nashville 59.7% 3. Raleigh 38.5% 3. Raleigh 61.8% 4. Jacksonville 38.6% 4. Salt Lake City 61.9% 5. Richmond 41.7% 5. Jacksonville 64.1% 6. Charleston 42.3% 6. Charleston 64.3% 7. Salt Lake City 46.8% 7. Richmond 66.6% 8. Austin 51.6% 8. Austin 69.9% 9. Seattle 57.7% 9. Seattle 75.9% Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Charleston’s housing affordability improved from last year, but housing is less affordable compared to the

8

Percentage of commuters who drove alone to work.

1. Seattle 66.7% 2. Austin 74.5% 3. Salt Lake City 77.0% 4. Nashville 78.9% 5. Raleigh 79.5% 6. Jacksonville 80.1% 7. Richmond 80.3% 8. Greenville 81.06% 9. Charleston 81.07% Source: U.S. Census Bureau

While Charleston’s rate of lone commuters has

improved since 2005, the region ranked last

among peer metros in 2019.

2005 baseline.

CHANGE IN INDICATOR VALUE:

COMMUTER TRAFFIC, 2019

= Better

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

= Worse

RALEIGH

HOUSEHOLDS WITH BROADBAND INTERNET, 2019 Percentage of households with broadband Internet subscription.

1. Seattle 93.0% 2. Salt Lake City 92.0% 3. Austin 91.1% 4. Raleigh 91.0% 5. Nashville 89.6% 6. Jacksonville 89.4% 7. Greenville 85.9% 8. Richmond 85.1% 9. Charleston 82.0% Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Charleston’s broadband penetration has improved

but not as much as peer metros.

= No change The most recent values are compared to a 2005 baseline and do not imply year-to-year changes.

es.

Factors impacting a community’s quality of life Charleston ranks 6th for employment in the arts, entertainment, and recreation, 2019

Charleston ranks 6th for violent crime, 2019

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Source: FBI Uniform Crime Statistics

This quality of life measure was one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic.

Crime rate dropped the most of all peers since 2005.

THE SELF-SUFFICIENCY STANDARD, 2020

Self-Sufficiency defines the minimum income needed to realistically support a family, without assistance.

It measures income adequacy (varying by family type) based on the costs of basic needs for working families.

1 adult Annual salary to meet self-sufficency standard (housing, food, transportation, healthcare, miscellaneous, taxes)

2 adults, 1 school-age child Annual (household) salary to meet self-sufficency standard (adds child care & affiliated tax credits)

$51,295 $27,520 Berkeley

$31,047

While Charleston’s median household income ($70,505) is higher than the selfsufficiency standard in each of our region’s three counties,

$55,243

$52,095

47,500 households or 16% do not earn enough to be considered self-sufficient.

$28,306

Charleston Dorchester

Berkeley

Charleston Dorchester

2019 CHARLESTON’S MEDIAN WAGE FOR ALL OCCUPATIONS

$18.00 HOUR / $37,440 ANNUAL

Sources: Trident United Way, report prepared by University of Washington; Bureau of Labor Statistics

In the United States, it is typ ical for families with two children (with at least one under school-age ) to spend roughly half their budget on housing and childcare expenses alo ne.

NATIONAL TREND TO WATCH POPULATION SHIFT TO MID-SIZE METROS As a result of the pandemic, workers across the U.S. are abandoning urban centers – such as New York City, Houston, Dallas and Austin – for more affordable mid-size metros. The most popular destinations are in New Jersey, South Carolina, Maryland, Connecticut, and Arizona according to recent data from the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Charleston’s top 10 feeder markets are New York-Newark, Charlotte, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, and five other S.C. cities.

Sources: USPS; Bankrate; U.S. Census Bureau

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

9

WELL-BEING

2005 – 2019

WELL-BEING COMPOSITE RANKING

CHARLESTON JACKSONVILLE

GREENVILLE

8

9

7

6

BASED ON 5 INDICATORS

RICHMOND NASHVILLE AUSTIN RALEIGH 5 43 2 SALT LAKE CITY

CHARLESTON'S IMPROVEMENT SINCE 2005

1

POVERTY RATE, 2019

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, 2019

Indicator of overall prosperity.

Includes all sources of income.

1. Seattle $94,027 2. Austin $80,954 3. Salt Lake City $80,196 4. Raleigh $80,096 5. Charleston $70,505 6. Nashville $70,262 7. Richmond $68,324 8. Jacksonville $65,880 9. Greenville $58,621 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

$65,712 U.S. Median Charleston’s median household income surpassed the U.S. for

the first time since this Scorecard began tracking 11 years ago.

Population with incomes below federal poverty level: $25,750 for a four-person household.

1. Seattle 7.8% 2. Salt Lake City 8.6% 3. Raleigh 8.9% 4. Nashville 10% 4. Richmond 10% 6. Austin 10.1% 7. Charleston 10.7% 8. Jacksonville 11.5% 9. Greenville 12.5% Source: U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. rate 12.3% S.C. rate 13.8% Among peer metros,

Charleston had the largest drop since 2005.

HEALTHCARE ACCESS, 2019

SEATTLE

HEATHCARE COVERAGE, 2019

Healthcare professionals per 100K residents.

Percentage of population with health insurance.

1. Nashville 3,375 2. Charleston 3,243 2. Richmond 3,243 4. Jacksonville 2,976 5. Salt Lake City 2,835 6. Greenville 2,799 7. Seattle 2,552 8. Raleigh 2,427 9. Austin 2,250

1. Seattle 94.1% 2. Richmond 92.2% 3. Nashville 90.7% 3. Raleigh 90.7% 5. Salt Lake City 89.6% 6. Greenville 89.1% 7. Jacksonville 88.8% 8. Charleston 88.6% 9. Austin 86.4%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. rate 90.8% Since 2010, Charleston’s

coverage rate improved faster than all but two peer metros. Between 2018-2019,

Charleston’s rate declined the most, dropping its ranking from 4th to 8th.

CHANGE IN INDICATOR VALUE:

10

= Better

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

= Worse

= No change The most recent values are compared to a 2005 baseline and do not imply year-to-year changes.

es.

Opportunities for all residents to thrive

AVERAGE ANNUAL PAY, 2019 $59,209

REAL WAGE GROWTH SINCE 2005 10% 7% 4%

U.S. Average

Seattle $82,965

Austin

Raleigh

Nashville

$65,764

$59,499

Charleston

$57,100

Salt Lake City

Richmond $54,888

Jacksonville $52,061 Charleston

S.C.

U.S.

86+14

$57,543

$50,896

Charleston's annual pay is about 86% of the national average.

Greenville $46,828 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

POVERTY RATE DECLINING IN CHARLESTON In 2019, about 83,348 Charleston area residents lived at or below the federal poverty level.

People of color

2010 2019

White

2010 2019

17.2% 7.5%

27.8%

10.7% Source: U.S. Census Bureau

CHARLESTON’S ECONOMIC DISPARITIES, 2008-2018 Brookings Institution’s 2020 Metro Monitor examines growth, prosperity, and inclusion indicators and reports on the gaps between whites and people of color. This data highlights the need to improve economic mobility and deepen prosperity for all residents.

EMPLOYMENT RATE*

MEDIAN EARNINGS

RELATIVE POVERTY RATE**

1.2%

$7,758

5.6%

Gap decreased by

*share of individuals 18-65 who are employed **share of individuals 16+ earning <50% of local median wage

Gap widened by

Gap widened by

Source: Brookings Institution, 2020 Metro Monitor

Creating a more inclusive economy will require us to think more holistically about connecting people to good job opportunities, through education, skills training, transportation, housing, and employer outreach.

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SCORECARD

11

NATIONAL TRENDS TO WATCH

WOMEN LEAVING THE WORKPLACE COVID-19 and the associated economic shutdowns created a crisis for all workers, but the impact was greater for women, minorities, lower-wage earners, and those with less education.

RISE OF REMOTE WORK COVID-19 has prompted many companies to rethink fundamental beliefs about remote work, including opportunities to tap into larger and more diverse talent pools without geographic limitations. Wide access to high-speed broadband will be key.

One in three mothers (as many as 2 million women) have considered leaving the workforce or downshifting their careers because of COVID-19.

Childcare responsibilities and a lack of support at workplace are cited as primary reasons.

75+25 75%

Of the 1.1 million adults ages 20+ who left the workforce between Aug. - Sept. 2020, nearly 75% were women.

93% of companies now say more jobs can be performed remotely, and close to 70% predict a significant share of their employees will regularly work remotely a year from now. As a result of telework, 14-23 million Americans intend to relocate according to an October 2020 study released by Upwork. Many see remote work as an opportunity to live where they want and where they can afford.

Produced by:

Data Provided by: Charleston Center for Business Research

View online:

Designed and Published by: Visual Infonomics Group, a division of SC Biz News

crda.org/economicscorecard OR charlestonchamber.org/economicscorecard