In Hidalgo County, jobs in the pipeline transportation of natural gas pay the highest wages

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Individuals that are employed in the pipeline transportation of natural gas industry reported the top wages in Hidalgo County for the 2nd quarter of 2006. The average worker in the industry in Hidalgo County received an annual wage of $102,915 in 2nd quarter of 2006. The wage rate is less than the industry wage in Texas of $134,282 and greater than then the wage for jobs in this industry at the United States Level of $90,366.

Other high-paying jobs in Hidalgo County, Texas may be found in securities and commodity contracts brokerage ($65,935), support activities for air transportation ($57,237), support activities for mining ($55,301) and motor vehicle parts manufacturing ($54,146) 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.

Hidalgo County Industry Wages Lag Behind Texas, and Wages Lag Behind the United States

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Total wages in all industries in Hidalgo County, Texas can be understood as being relatively low when analyzed with other Counties in the state. The overall wages are 43 percent lower than the reported averages in the state of $41,186. The average industry wage was less than the national industry average 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.

Hidalgo County One-Year Industry Employment Change

Out of the 164 industries (4-digit NAICS) with sufficient data reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in each quarter, 66 reported job growth in the duration of the year and 95 industry sectors accounting for employment declines during that time period.

Total One-Year Employment Decline in Hidalgo County

Given the industries in the area, the Building finishing contractors industry has lost the most employment with a total loss of 239 jobs during the time period. The jobs lost in the Building finishing contractors industry make up 9.8 percent of the total job loss in Hidalgo County, Texas.

Top 5 Industries
1. Building finishing contractors (239 jobs lost)
2. Building foundation and exterior contractors (228 jobs lost)
3. Other residential care facilities (157 jobs lost)
4. Department stores (142 jobs lost)
5. Vegetable and melon farming (126 jobs lost)

Total One-Year Employment Growth in Hidalgo County

Out of the 4-digit NAICS industries, the Home health care services industry has grown the most with 1,703 jobs added during the time period. These new jobs in the Home health care services industry makes up 22.3 percent of the total growth in Hidalgo County.

Top 5 Industries
1. Home health care services (1,703 new jobs)
2. General freight trucking (550 new jobs)
3. Clothing stores (440 new jobs)
4. Individual and family services (426 new jobs)
5. Nonresidential building construction (313 new jobs)

In Hidalgo County, Texas, the total number of workers for all sectors has increased by 4,520 total jobs between the 2nd Quarter of 2005 and 2nd Quarter of 2006.

Employment for all industries has increased by 3 percent from 2005 (2nd Quarter). These figures are less than growth in Texas, which experienced a gain of 4.0 percent since the 2nd Quarter of 2005. The gains felt were greater than than the gain felt at the national level of 2.0 percent.

Hidalgo County One-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Furniture and furnishing merchant wholesalers industry has witnessed the largest percentage of employment expansion, increasing by 215.4 percent from 2005 to 2006. This industry in Hidalgo County has grow faster than the industry job growth experienced in Texas, where the industry took a gain of 7.8 percent. The Furniture and furnishing merchant wholesalers industry in Hidalgo County outpaced the United States, which experienced a gained 3.2 percent.

Top 5 Industries
1. Furniture and furnishing merchant wholesalers (215.4 percent gain)
2. Remediation and other waste services (143.6 percent gain)
3. Spectator sports (72.7 percent gain)
4. Residential mental health facilities (50.0 percent gain)
5. Management and technical consulting services (46.3 percent gain)

Hidalgo County One-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Other residential care facilities industry has seen the largest percentage drop in employment, losing 77.9 percent of the jobs from the 2nd quarter of 2005 to 2nd quarter of 2006. The losses of the area have declined faster than the industry sector has felt in the State of Texas, where the industry felt a loss of 6 percent. The losses in the Other residential care facilities industry in Hidalgo County outpaced the US in terms of percent of decline of industry employment. The US lost 0.8 percent in terms of employees in the Other residential care facilities industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Other residential care facilities (77.9 percent decline)
2. Promoters of performing arts and sports (54.3 percent decline)
3. Beer, wine, and liquor stores (43.8 percent decline)
4. Printing and related support activities (36.2 percent decline)
5. General rental centers (31.2 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 Hidalgo County, Texas

The rate of poverty in Hidalgo County, Texas has increased by 5.1 percent from the rates reported in the Decennial Census, moving from 35.9 percent to 41 percent.

The household income has declined from the inflation-adjusted values in 2000. The income level has decreased to $24,501, representing a 15.8 percent decline. Hidalgo County, Texas, when analyzing percentage of decline, ranks 7 of 46 counties in percent of decline for the household income level in the State of Texas. Hidalgo County ranks 38 of 668 counties (or parishes) when comparing total percent of decline in household income across the nation.

While household income level experienced a decline from 2000 to 2005 in Hidalgo County, Texas, the Race/Ethnicity category that saw the sharpest decline in median income was the White Race/Ethnicity category. This group experienced a decline of 15.3 percent since the year 2000. The Asian Race/Ethnicity category has been least effected by the income level decline in Hidalgo County, experiencing a 35.8 percent increase in median income, since the values reported in the 2000 Decennial Census.

The Asian householders in the area have reported their median household incomes at $65,922. This income level is 126.6 percent greater than the all households reported median in the area. In Hidalgo County, Texas White headed households reported household income (in 2005 Dollars) of $29,629 according to the Decennial Census of 2000, which was 1.9 percent greater than the median in 2000. Hispanic households in Hidalgo County, Texas recorded a median income of $26,151, this median is 10.1 percent less than the reported median household income for all households in the area. Black or African American headed households had a median household income that was 66.3 percent greater than the overall reported level in 2000, with a reported median of $48,391. The American Indian and Alaska Native headed households in Hidalgo County reported a median household income of $22,251, this level was 23.5 percent less than the median level for total households in the area.

When put side-by-side with other counties (or parishes) throughout the United States, Hidalgo County, Texas can be understood to have a very high rate of poverty among the people, accounting a rate of 35.9 percent of the population with family incomes below the 1999 poverty level. The American Indian and Alaska Native race/ethnicity demographic group, represents the largest rate of poverty with 42.6 percent of the 2000 residents living in poverty. People aged 5 years are experiencing most percent people in poverty in Hidalgo County, accounting 47.6 percent of this age group in the area living in poverty.

When analyzed against other counties (and parishes) in the US, Hidalgo County reported a relatively low median household income of $29,090 (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars). This figure is 60.6 percent lower than the household income median in State of Texas of $46,715 and the median is 68.9 percent lower than the median household income level in the US of $49,133.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

In Hidalgo County, Texas as reported in the 2000 Census, 13.6 percent of the White Alone, 16.6 percent of Black or African American, 67.4 percent of the Asian alone and 9.6 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

In 2000, the Census reported that in Hidalgo County, Texas, the largest educational attainment category for men is the Less than High School category, with 48.6 percent achieving this level. The female population in Hidalgo have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 13.6 percent (Men) versus 12.2 percent (Women). The most common level of education for women in the area is Less than High School category, with 50.4 percent of the women population in the area achieving this level of education.

Between 2000 and 2005, the percent of the male population that can be understood as highly educated has increased by 2.4 percent. By 2005, 16.4 percent of the total male population, in the area, has obtained at least a Bachelors Degree. From 2000 to 2005, the percent of women with a Bachelors or Higher has increased by a total of 2.2 percent. By 2005, a total of 14.4 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

Hidalgo County, Texas may to understood as having a moderately-educated population of the working age, with 13 percent of the population over 25 years old having received at least a Bachelors Degree, according to the Decennial Census of 2000. Hidalgo counted a lower percent of individuals with higher educations than the State of Texas's proportion of 23.2 percent and a lower percent than the US proportion of 24.4 percent.

From the year 2000, Hidalgo has increased in the total percent of the over 25 population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher. This population group has grown by 2.4 percent to a total of 15.4 percent in 2005. The American Community Survey reports that the proportion of the 2005 population that is highly educated is less than the 2005 State of Texas percent of 25.2 and less than the average US percent of 27.2.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

From 2000, a very high amount of people have migrated to Hidalgo from another country. The international migration into Hidalgo totals 4 percent of immigration into the State of Texas. This percent of international migration is very high when analyzed against immigration per population in 2005.

Hidalgo County, Texas had an estimated population of 678,275 in the year 2005. The population has increased very sharply, since its 2000 population of 574,029. This growth represents an increase of 18.2 percent. Hidalgo ranks 7 of 254 counties by growth in total population in Texas and the county ranks 23 of 3,141 counties when analyzing total county population change across the nation.

Hidalgo County, Texas has a population base that is comprised of 9.4 percent White, 0.4 percent African American, 0.7 percent Asian, and 89.4 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a very high amount of racial and ethnic diversity, with 90.5 percent of the population being minorities. This is greater than the State of Texas percent of 49.5. Since 2000, Hidalgo has increased the percent of minority makeup when 89.3 percent of the population were minorities.

When calculating the total land area, Hidalgo encompasses a total area of 1570 square miles. The land areas has a medium-high density of 432 persons per square mile. Similar counties in the US, in terms of density, include: -- more densely populated -- Putnam, NY (435 per sq. mile ), Cherokee, GA (435 per sq. mile ), Stafford, VA (436 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Boone, KY (432 per sq. mile ), Ventura, CA (431 per sq. mile ), Kalamazoo, MI (428 per sq. mile ).

The population division of the Census Bureau estimates in 2005 a median age in Hidalgo County, Texas to be 27.2 years of age. The median age in Hidalgo is less than the median age in the State of Texas of 33.2. Since the year 2000, the area has seen no change in the median age, when it was 27.2 years old. With a total of 35.2 percent of the 2005 population being comprised of individuals under the age of 18, Hidalgo can be described as being made up of a relatively high percent of people under 18. The 18 to 64 years old population group has a relatively low representation within the estimated 2005 area population, making up 55.5 percent of the population within the age group. People 65 and older make up 9.3 percent of the population in the area. When compared to other counties throughout the United States, this represents a relatively low proportion of the population.

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

In Hidalgo County, there were a total of 231,571 homes in the year 2005. This county has gone through a growth in housing units, adding a sum of 30,570 housing units since the year 2001, or 15.2 percent.

When compared to other counties in Texas, Hidalgo County stands 10 of 254 in terms of percentage growth in new housing structures. The county ranks 114 of 3,141, when comparing thee change in housing structures in counties throughout the nation.

Hidalgo County recorded median owner-occupied home value in the year 2005 of $61,200, published by the American Community Survey. This median is less than the overall Texas 2005 median home value of $106,000 and less than median owner-occupied dwelling value of $167,500 for the rest of the nation in that year.

The residential real estate values in Hidalgo County, Texas have moderate increases from the real estate values reported in 2000. The valuations have increased by $8,800, or 16.8 percent, since their values in that year of $52,400.

According to the data, there is a large amount of real estate that is affordable in Hidalgo County, Texas. In 2005, 85.6 percent of housing was valued under $125k.

Hidalgo County has a small, but present percentage of high-priced residential real estate. In 2005, the American Community Survey reports that 0.4 percent of the homes were valued over $500,000.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Employment Report for Hidalgo County, Texas -- Annual 2005 Industry Summary

Manufacturing since the year 2001 lost the most jobs in Hidalgo County. The sector dealt with a loss of 3,197 total jobs during the period, accounting for 27.9 percent of jobs in the industry. The losses in this industry made up 70.4 percent of the total loss in employment during the period.

In Hidalgo County, Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, Mining and Health care and social assistance are the three industries with the highest location quotients. The Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector in the county has a location quotient of 3.75. In other words, the percent of total jobs in the Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting sector is 3.75 times greater than the national average, signifying that Hidalgo specializes in Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting.

Management of companies and enterprises is the industry with the largest change in employment since the year 2001 in Hidalgo County, with an industry growth of 334.2 percent. This is greater than the change in industry employment in the United States of 1.6 percent. The State of Texas experienced a change in employment in the sector of 70.2 percent, in the last 5 years.

In Hidalgo County, Health care and social assistance, Retail Trade, and the Accommodation and food services industries have the largest percent of jobs of all industries. The Health care and social assistance is the major employer in the county making up 26.7 percent of the total county employment. This totals 40,374 jobs. The Retail Trade and Accommodation and food services industries make up 18.6 and 10.4 percent of the total jobs, respectively.

Utilities has a largest number of employee per establishment in Hidalgo County. In the County, the industry averages 30 employees per business. This is less than the industry's average at the national level of 34 and greater than the State of Texas typical size of 26 for the Utilities industry.







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