In Polk County, jobs in the highway, street, and bridge construction pay the highest wages

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People with jobs in the highway, street, and bridge construction industry wages were the highest in Polk County for the 2nd quarter of 2006. The average worker in the industry in Polk County received an annual wage of $52,646 in 2006. The average wage is less than the industry pay the State of Minnesota of $58,481 and greater than then the pay for jobs in this industry in the United States of $49,314.

Top-pay jobs in Polk County, Minnesota can be found in offices of physicians ($49,399), general freight trucking ($42,938), nonresidential building construction ($42,635) and grocery and related product wholesalers ($42,442) industries. Note: Clicking the Above Graphic Displays the Detailed Comparison

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Polk County Wages have increased by 13.8% Since 2001

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Since 2001, industry wages increased in Polk County, Minnesota by a total of 13.8%. This is less than the growth in wages for the State of Minnesota and less than the growth in industry wages across the US.

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Polk County Industry Wages Lag Behind Minnesota, and Wages Lag Behind the United States

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The average total wages in all industries in Polk County, Minnesota can be described as relatively low when analyzed with other Counties in the state. The overall wages are 41.7 percent lower than the with an state average of $40,849. The average industry wage was less than the industry average in the US of $40,259.

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Polk County Five-Year Industry Employment Change

Polk County Five-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Personal care services industry has lost the largest percent of jobs, losing 35.6 percent from 2001 (Q2) to 2006 (Q2). The losses of the area have declined faster than the industry has experienced in the State of Minnesota, where the industry sector experienced a gain of 13.7 percent. The losses in the Personal care services industry in Polk County outpaced the losses of nation as a whole in the industry. In this time period, the nation gained 16.5 in percent of workers in the Personal care services industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Personal care services (35.6 percent decline)
2. Other specialty trade contractors (32.4 percent decline)
3. Building equipment contractors (29.8 percent decline)
4. Vegetable and melon farming (29 percent decline)
5. Florists (24.4 percent decline)

Total employment has increased by 4.7 percent from 2001 (2nd Quarter). These figures are greater than percent in Minnesota, which went through a gain of 2.5 percent since 2001 ( 2nd Quarter). The gains felt were greater than than the gain experienced overall in the US of 2.6 percent.

Polk County Five-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Building finishing contractors industry has experienced the largest percentage growth, expanding by 417.6 percent from the 2001 (Q2) to the 2006 (Q2). This industry in Polk County has expanded faster than the industry job growth experienced in Minnesota, where the industry felt a gain of 7.5 percent. The Building finishing contractors industry in Polk County outpaced the national average, which felt a gained 17.4 percent of the employment in this industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Building finishing contractors (417.6 percent gain)
2. Individual and family services (237.4 percent gain)
3. Services to buildings and dwellings (148.1 percent gain)
4. Traveler accommodation (82.1 percent gain)
5. Specialized freight trucking (62.7 percent gain)

Total Five-Year Employment Growth in Polk County

From the industries (4-digit NAICS) in the area, the Individual and family services industry has added the most employment with 320 employees finding new jobs in the industry. The employment growth in the Individual and family services industry makes up 41.9 percent of the total growth in Polk County.

Top 5 Industries
1. Individual and family services (320 new jobs)
2. Specialized freight trucking (98 new jobs)
3. Traveler accommodation (80 new jobs)
4. Nursing care facilities (42 new jobs)
5. Gasoline stations (35 new jobs)

Of the 49 industry sectors (4-digit NAICS) with employment figures reported by the BLS in each quarter, 22 described an expansion of jobs throughout the time period, while 27 industries reported employment loss in the period.

In Polk County, Minnesota, the entire sum of jobs in all industries overall has increased by 443 jobs from mid-2001 to mid-2006.

Total Five-Year Employment Decline in Polk County

From of the area's 4-digit NAICS industries, the Full-service restaurants industry witnessed the largest drop in employment, losing a total of 88 jobs during the period. The employment lost in the Full-service restaurants industry make up 26.4 percent of the jobs lost during the period in Polk County, Minnesota.

Top 5 Industries
1. Full-service restaurants (88 jobs lost)
2. Grocery stores (42 jobs lost)
3. Limited-service eating places (34 jobs lost)
4. Building equipment contractors (23 jobs lost)
5. Vegetable and melon farming (21 jobs lost)





About: This report is part 2 of 6 in the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Polk County One-Year Industry Employment Change

Total One-Year Employment Decline in Polk County

The Full-service restaurants industry experienced most substantial job loss, losing 53 jobs during the period. The employment lost in the Full-service restaurants industry make up 21.8 percent of the employment lost during the period in Polk County, Minnesota.

Top 5 Industries
1. Full-service restaurants (53 jobs lost)
2. Limited-service eating places (47 jobs lost)
3. Specialized freight trucking (34 jobs lost)
4. Grocery stores (22 jobs lost)
5. Building foundation and exterior contractors (12 jobs lost)

From the 53 industries with industry data reported by the BLS in each quarter, 20 accounted an for increase in employment during the period and 33 industries reported employment loss in the period.

In Polk County, Minnesota, the total number of workers for all sectors has decreased by 49 total jobs from 2005 to 2006.

Total One-Year Employment Growth in Polk County

Of the industries (4-digit NAICS) in the area, the Traveler accommodation industry has accounted the most employment growth with a total of 93 new jobs created in the period. The job growth in the Traveler accommodation industry makes up 22.4 percent of the growth in Polk County.

Top 5 Industries
1. Traveler accommodation (93 new jobs)
2. Individual and family services (71 new jobs)
3. Farm product raw material merch. whls. (27 new jobs)
4. Nursing care facilities (24 new jobs)
5. Scientific research and development services (24 new jobs)

Polk County One-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Traveler accommodation industry has witnessed the largest percentage of employment expansion, increasing by 111.2 percent from the 2005 (Q2) to the 2006 (Q2). This industry in Polk County has added employment faster than the industry job growth experienced in Minnesota, where this industry saw a gain of 1.4 percent. The Traveler accommodation industry in Polk County outpaced the United States, which experienced a gained 0.3 percent of the industry employment.

Top 5 Industries
1. Traveler accommodation (111.2 percent gain)
2. Personal care services (57.4 percent gain)
3. Nonresidential building construction (54.6 percent gain)
4. Building finishing contractors (31.3 percent gain)
5. Other specialty trade contractors (22.1 percent gain)

The total number of jobs has decreased by 0.5 percent from the reported values in 2005. These values are greater than growth in Minnesota, which experienced a gain of 1.9 percent from the 2nd Quarter of 2005. The losses the area experienced were greater than than the gain felt at the national level of 2.0 percent.

Polk County One-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Beer, wine, and liquor stores industry has lost the largest percent of jobs, losing 38.9 percent from 2005 (Q2) to 2006 (Q2). The losses of the area have declined faster than the industry has seen in the Minnesota, where the industry felt a gain of 10.5 percent. The losses in the Beer, wine, and liquor stores industry in Polk County outpaced the United States industry losses overall. During this period, the United States lost 0.7 in percent of workers in the Beer, wine, and liquor stores industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Beer, wine, and liquor stores (38.9 percent decline)
2. Building foundation and exterior contractors (24.8 percent decline)
3. Printing and related support activities (22.9 percent decline)
4. Building equipment contractors (17.1 percent decline)
5. Limited-service eating places (12.2 percent decline)





About: This report is part 1 of 6 in the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Income and Poverty in Polk County, Minnesota

When put side-by-side with other counties (or parishes) throughout the United States, Polk County, Minnesota may be understood as having a medium-low rate of poverty among the people, accounting a rate of 10.9 percent of the individuals existing in families with incomes under the poverty level in 1999. The American Indian and Alaska Native race/ethnicity demographic group, represents the largest rate of poverty with 44.4 percent of the population in 2000 living in poverty. Individuals aged Under 5 years have the most percent of people living in poverty in Polk County, reporting 18.2 percent of this age cohort living in poverty.

In Polk County, Minnesota White headed households reported household income (in 2005 Dollars) of $41,805 as reported in 2000 by the census, which was 1.8 percent greater than the median income in 2000. The Asian headed households reported median household incomes of $14,111. This median is 65.6 percent less than the reported median household income, in the area, for all households. Hispanic households in Polk County, Minnesota , according to the 2000 census, had a median household income of $22,912, this income level is 44.2 percent less than the areas median income level for all households. The American Indian and Alaska Native households in Polk County had a median household income level of $35,727, this level was 13 percent less than the median income level in this area. Black or African American headed households had a median household income that was 4.4 percent greater than the overall reported level in 2000, with a reported median of $42,900.

Compared to other counties (and parishes) throughout the nation, Polk County had a medium-high median household income of $41,073 (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars). This figure is 34.2 percent lower than the household income median in State of Minnesota of $55,120 and the income level is 19.6 percent lower than the median household income in the United States of $49,133.







Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census.

Higher Education in Polk County, Minnesota

In Polk County, Minnesota as reported in the Census of the year 2000, 18 percent of the White Alone, 15.4 percent of Black or African American, 27.8 percent of the Asian alone and 6.6 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved at least a Bachelors Degree.

The 2000 Decennial Census reported that in Polk County, Minnesota, the most common level of education achieved in the area for the male population is the High School Diploma category, with 32.8 percent obtaining this level of education. The women in Polk on average have achieved a greater level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men; 16.6 percent (Men) versus 18.4 percent (Women). The largest educational attainment category for women in this areas is Some College or Associates Degree category, with 33.8 percent of the female population achieving this education level.

Polk County, Minnesota can be considered to have a moderately-educated 2000 population, with 17.6 percent of the over 25 years old population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher, according to the 2000 Decennial Census. Polk is reported having a lower percent of individuals with higher educations than the State of Minnesota's proportion of 27.4 percent and a lower percent than the US proportion of 24.4 percent.





Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census.

Demographic Profile for Polk County, Minnesota

Polk County, Minnesota has a population that is made up of 92.3 percent White, 0.5 percent African American, 0.5 percent Asian, and 4.6 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a modest amount of racial and ethnic diversity, with 5.6 percent minorities. This is less than the State of Minnesota percent of 11.2. Since 2000, Polk has increased the percent of minority population when 5.4 percent of the people were minorities.

Polk County, Minnesota had an estimated population of 31,133 in the year 2005. The population has decreased, since its 2000 population of 31,379. The decline signifies a decrease of -0.8 percent. Polk ranks 61 of 87 counties in terms of population growth in Minnesota and the county ranks 2,416 of 3,141 counties by growth in county population in the United States.

Since the year 2000, a medium-high number of individual migrated to the Polk internationally. The international migration into Polk totals 0.2 percent of immigration into the State of Minnesota. This percent of international migration is medium-high when analyzed against the base population in the year 2005 and compared to other counties across the US.

In the year 2005, the population division of U.S. Census Bureau estimates the median age in Polk County, Minnesota to be 39.6 years old. The median age in Polk is greater than the median age in Minnesota of 36.7. Since the year 2000, the area has witnessed an increase in the median age, when it was 38.3 years old. With a total of 22.6 percent of the 2005 population being comprised of individuals under the age of 18, Polk can be understood as being made up of a medium-low percent of people under 18. The 18 to 64 years old population group has a medium-low presence of the 2005 population base, with 60.8 percent of the population makes up this age category. The retirement (65 and over) age group comprises 16.6 percent of the population in the area. When compared to other counties throughout the United States, this represents a medium-high percent of the population base.

When measuring the total land area, Polk covers a total land area of 1970 total square miles. The area has a very low average area density of 16 persons per square mile, in 2005. Similar counties, in terms of density, in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Kittitas, WA (16 per sq. mile ), Van Buren, IA (16 per sq. mile ), Wasatch, UT (16 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Dade, MO (16 per sq. mile ), Ashland, WI (16 per sq. mile ), Johnston, OK (16 per sq. mile ).

Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Housing Report for Polk County, Minnesota

In Polk County, the U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division accounted for a total of 14,519 homes in 2005. The county has experienced a growth in housing units, adding all together 402 residential units since 2001, or 2.8 percent.

There seems to be a large amount of real estate that is affordable in Polk County, Minnesota. In 2000, 84.3 percent of owner-occupied dwellings were valued under $125k.

The State of Minnesota, Polk County is positioned 56 of 87 by percent in growth of new residential structures. The county places 1,442 of 3,141, in terms of residential real estate percentage change change in the United States.

Polk County recorded a median home value in 2000 of $75,000, reported by the Decennial Census. This value is less than the Minnesota 2000 median home value of $122,400 and less than median home value of $119,600 for the United States in the same year.





Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Employment Report for Polk County, Minnesota -- Annual 2005 Industry Summary

In Polk County, Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, Health care and social assistance and Manufacturing industries, in terms of United States location quotient, are the most dominant in the region. The Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry has an LQ of 3.62. In other words, the percent of total jobs in the Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry is 3.62 times greater than the US average, showing signs that Polk County produces more than its local requirement of products and/or services of Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.

In Polk County, Health care and social assistance, Manufacturing, and the Retail Trade sectors, in terms of total employment, are the largest. Health care and social assistance produces the largest number of jobs in the area accounting for 25.2 percent of the total county employment. This totals 2,494 individuals. The Manufacturing and Retail Trade industries make up 17.1 and 12.1 percent of total employment, respectively.

Manufacturing has the largest employers in Polk County. In the County, the industry averages 38 jobs per place of business. This is less than the industry's average in the United States of 39 and less than the State of Minnesota typical size of 39 for the Manufacturing industry.

Real estate and rental and leasing has seen the highest growth in employment from the years 2001-2005 in Polk County, moving a total of 70.9 percent. This is greater than the United States industry change in employment of 4.3 percent. The State of Minnesota faced a industry job change of 4.3 percent, in the last 5 years.









Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).