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Table 9: Change in Employment Rate in Rural America, 1970–2020
| Area | 1970 | 2020 | Change | Change% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park Towns | 47.8% | 52.1% | +4.2 | +8.8% |
| Rural America | ||||
| USDA Nonmetro U.S. | 50.4% | 53.7% | +3.3 | +6.5% |
| Low Density U.S. | 49.1% | 53.1% | +4.1 | +8.3% |
| USDA Nonmetro NE | 52.7% | 55.8% | +3.1 | +5.8% |
| Low Density NE | 50.5% | 52.3% | +1.8 | +3.5% |
Whereas the Park Towns’ employment rate lagged behind that of New York and the U.S., they were consistent with vast areas of Rural America. Table 9 (above) shows that the Park Towns’ +4.2 percentage point growth in its overall employment rate was higher than that of other rural areas from 1970 to 2020. The Park Towns’ 2020 employment rate of 52.1% for residents over age 16 was consistent with that of other rural areas. The maps on these two pages compare the employment trends between the Park Towns and Rural America.
The upward trend of the employment rate of the population 16 years and older is positive for rural areas. A big question is whether these trends are sustained in the decade that follows 2020. In 1970, the Park Towns lagged behind the employment rates of New York, the U.S. and most other rural areas, but by 2020 had largely closed the gap. In 2020, the Park Towns had a higher employment rate than that of the majority of Rural America. ❑
Figure 38: Comparison of changes in the employment rate, of people 16 years and older, from 1970 to 2020 between the Park Towns and the Rural Northeast U.S. counties
From 1970 to 2020, 65% of USDA Nonmetro Northeast U.S. counties had lower growth in their employment rate than did the Park Towns. These counties were home to 2.9 million people, 68% of the population of the Rural Northeast U.S.
Northeast U.S. metropolitan counties
52 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with lower growth in their employment rate from 1970 to 2020 than that of the Park Towns
28 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with higher growth in their employment rate from 1970 to 2020 than that of the Park Towns
Figure 39: Comparison of the employment rate, of people 16 years and older, in 2020 between the Park Towns and the Rural Northeast U.S. counties
In 2020, 17 of USDA Nonmetro Northeast U.S. counties had lower employment rate than did the Park Towns. These counties were home to 634 thousand people, 15% of the population of the Rural Northeast U.S.
Northeast U.S. metropolitan counties
17 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with a lower employment rate in 2020 than that of the Park Towns
63 Rural Northeast U.S. counties with a higher employment rate in 2020 than that of the Park Towns