New data recently released show that Appalachia’s labor force participation continues to improve, although population growth is slower than in the nation as a whole.
This new data comes as part of our 15th annual update of The Appalachian Region: A Data Overview from the 2019-2023 American Community Survey, also known as “The Chartbook.”
The Chartbook offers a world of data on the Appalachian Region; dive in now!
More Key Takeaways From The Chartbook:
⚙️ Decrease in Unemployment
Appalachia’s unemployment rate decreased by 0.8 percentage points between 2014-2018 to 2019-2023, compared to a 0.4 percentage point decrease in the rest of the U.S.
🏠 Homeownership ️
Among occupied housing units, homeownership in the region was 6.7 percentage points higher than in the U.S. overall.
💵 Household Income
At $64,588, the median household income in Appalachia is nearly $14,000 below the U.S. average of $78,538.
💸 Cost Burdens
The share of households in Appalachia that are cost burdened — where housing costs are 30% or more of monthly income — is 6.7 percentage points lower than the U.S. average.