The document provides demographic, economic, and labor market data for Perry County. It shows that while the total population increased slightly from 2000 to 2013, domestic out-migration exceeded in-migration. The population is aging and becoming more educated. The number of establishments and jobs in the county grew significantly from 2000 to 2011, led by natural business formation. Manufacturing is the top employer but lost jobs since 2002, while accommodation and food services gained jobs.

1. Data SnapShot Series 1.1
May 2015
DATA SNAPSHOT
Perry County

2. 2
Hometown Collaboration Initiative
This report has been produced by the Purdue Center for Regional
Development as a part of the Indiana Hometown Collaboration Initiative
(HCI). HCI is funded, in part, by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural
Affairs.

3. Table of contents
Introduction
01
Demography
02
Economy
03
Labor Market
04

4. Purpose
About Perry County
01
introduction

5. 5
Purpose
This document provides information
and data about Perry County that
can be used to guide local decision-
making activities.
The Data SnapShot showcases a variety
of demographic, economic and labor
market information that local leaders,
community organizations and others can
use to gain a better perspective on
current conditions and opportunities in
their county.
To strengthen the value and usability of
the information, we showcase the data
using a variety of visual tools, such as
charts, graphs and tables. In addition, we
offer key points about the data as a way
of assisting the user with the interpretation
of the information presented.
Finally, short takeaway messages are
offered at the end of each section in order
to highlight some of the more salient
findings.
Introduction
section 01

6. 6
About Perry County
Introduction
section 01
County Background
Established 1814
County
Seat
Tell City
Area 386 sq. mi.
Neighboring
Counties
Breckinridge, KY
Crawford, IN
Dubois, IN
Hancock, KY
Meade, KY
Spencer, IN
Hoosier National
Forest

7. Population change
Population pyramids
Race
Ethnicity
Educational attainment
Takeaways
02
demograph
y

8. 8
18,899
19,338
19,558
19,279
Population change
Components of Population Change, 2000-
2013
TotalChange -67*
Natural Increase 343
International Migration 77
Domestic Migration -379
The total population is
projected to decrease by
1 percent between 2013
and 2020.
Demography
Sources: STATSIndiana, U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census, 2010 Decennial Census, 2013 Estimates, Estimates of the Components of Resident Population Change
section 02
The county’s total population increased by 3 percent
between 2000 and 2013.The major contributor to that
expansion was natural increase (births minus deaths over
that span of time) with a net growth of 343 persons.
Data on domestic migration (the difference between the
number of people moving into the county versus moving
out) show that out-migration outpaced in-migration by
nearly 380 people. On the other hand, international
migration had a net increase of 77, indicating that the county
experienced a minor influx of new people from outside the
U.S.
Total population
projections
2000 2010 2013 2020
*Total change in population differs from the sum of the components due to Census estimation techniques. Residuals (not reported here) make up the difference.

9. 9
6.0%
5.8%
8.0%
7.6%
7.5%
7.9%
5.9%
3.0%
1.8%
5.8%
5.4%
4.9%
5.3%
5.6%
7.3%
5.8%
3.3%
3.1%
9 6 3 0 3 6 9
0-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80+
Percent of Total Population
AgeCohort
6.0%
7.5%
7.5%
8.3%
8.6%
5.9%
3.8%
2.9%
1.3%
5.5%
6.9%
5.3%
6.4%
7.4%
5.7%
4.3%
4.2%
2.6%
9 6 3 0 3 6 9
0-9
10-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-79
80+
Percent of Total Population
AgeCohort
Population pyramids
Population pyramids are visual representations of the age distribution of the population by
gender.
There are proportionately more males than females in
PerryCounty. Approximately 51.7 % of the population was
male in 2000 (9,771 people) and that percent increased to
53.5% (10,467 people) in 2013.The distribution of people
across the various age categories changed as well, with a
larger share of people shifting into the higher age
groupings over the 2000 to 2013 time period.
Demography
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2013 Annual Population Estimates
section 02
In particular, people 50 and over swelled from 13.9% to
18.6% for males and from 16.8% to 19.5% for females
between 2000 and 2013. Individuals of prime working age --
20-49 years old -- slipped from 24.4% to 23.1% for males and
from 19.1% to 15.8% for females.The percent of residents
under 20 years of age also declined over the same time
period.
Male Female
20132000
Male Female

10. 10
White
96%
Other
4%
Black
Asian
Native
Two or More
Races
White
98%
Other
2%
Black
Asian
Native
Two or More
Races
Race
The number of non-White
residents in Perry County
increased by 2 percentage
points between 2000 and 2013.
While every race experienced a
numerical increase, the number of
Blacks, Asians, or people ofTwo or
More Races doubled since the 2000
population, helping to expand the
population of Other Races from 2
percent to 4 percent of the total
population by 2013.
Demography
Race Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2013 Annual Population Estimates
section 02
2000
2013

11. 11
Ethnicity
Hispanics are individuals of any
race whose ancestry are from
Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba,
Spain, the Dominican Republic
or any other Spanish-speaking
Central or South American
country.
There were 133 Hispanics residing in
Perry County in 2000.This figure
expanded to 246 by 2013, an 85
percent increase.
Despite this increase in the number
of Hispanics, they still only
represented one percent of the
population in 2013.
Demography
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2013 Annual Population Estimates
section 02
1%
1%
Hispanics - 2000
Hispanics - 2013

12. 12
No High
School, 16%
High School,
47%
Some
College,
18%
Associate's
Degree, 8%
Bachelor's
Degree or
More, 11%
No High
School, 25%
High School,
45%
Some
College, 15%
Associate's
Degree, 4%
Bachelor's
Degree or
More, 10%
Educational attainment
Perry County had a 5 percentage point
increase in the number of adults (25 and
older) with an associate’s, bachelor’s or
graduate degree from 2000 to 2013.
The proportion of adults 25 years of age and
older with a high school education or more
improved from 75 percent in 2000 to 84
percent by 2013. Residents with less than a
high school education fell by 9 percentage
points from 2000 to 2013; however, those
with only a high school degree increased by 2
percentage points to 47 percent in the same
time period.
Adults with a college degree increased from
14 percent in 2000 to 19 percent in 2013.This
was due to a 4 percentage point growth in
residents with associate’s degrees (4 percent
versus 8 percent), while adults with a
bachelor's degree or more increased from 10
percent to 11 percent, a 1
percentage point growth.
.
Demography
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – 2000 Decennial Census and 2013 ACS
section 02
2000
2013

13. 13
Takeaways
The population of Perry County is expected to fall
over the next few years, and if past trends hold, that
decrease will be due mainly to domestic out-
migration (more people moving out of the county
for other U.S. locations than moving to the county
from other U.S. places).
The gender gap in the county varies across age
groupings. For example, the gender imbalance is
greatest among persons of prime working age (20-
49 years) with men representing a larger share of
the population than women. But, females make up a
larger percentage of the 70 plus age population.
The population of Perry County is getting older, on
average, with a larger percent of the population now
being 60 years of age or older. Moreover, a sizable
number of people in the 50-59 working age
population is nearing retirement age. As such, the
percent of men and women of prime working age
(20-29, 30-39 and 40-49) continues to decline.
The educational attainment of adults 25 years old
and over has improved since 2000, with an
impressive decline in the percentage of adults with
less than a high school education.At the same time,
the proportion of residents with a high school
education only remains sizable (at 47 percent).
Taking time to assess whether local economic
development opportunities might be impeded by
the presence of a sizable number of adults with a
terminal high school degree may be worthy of
attention.While nearly one in five adult residents in
the county has an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree
or more, this figure is about 14 percentage points
lower than that of the state of Indiana for adults 25
plus years of age.
Perry County may wish to assess the job skills
of workers with a high school education only.
Determining if such skills align with the
needs of local businesses and industries –
both now and in the future -- may be worth
exploring.
Demography
section 02

14. Establishments
Industries
Occupations
Income and poverty
Takeaways
03
economy

15. 15
Establishments
Components of Change for Establishments
Total Change (2000-11) 449
Natural Change (births minus
deaths)
435
Net Migration 14
The number of establishments in Perry
County increased 55 percent from 2000 to
2011.
The rapid growth of establishments was largely due
to natural change.That is, 1,101 establishments
were launched in the county between 2000-2011
while 666 closed, resulting in a net gain of 435
establishments.There was a gain of 14
establishments due to net migration.
Economy
Source: National Establishment Time Series (NETS) – 2012 Database
section 03
An establishment is a
physical business location.
Branches, standalones and
headquarters are all
considered types of
establishments.
Definition of Company
Stages
0 1
2 3
4
Self-
employed
2-9
employees
10-99
employees
100-499
employees
500+
employees
Note: The 2011 figures use 2012 data to include all gains and losses over the entire year. Establishment
information was calculated in-house and may differ slightly from publicly available data.

16. 16
Number of establishments by
stage/employment category
Economy
Source: National Establishment Time Series (NETS) – 2012 Database
section 03
2000 2011
Stage Establishments Proportion Establishments Proportion
Stage 0 239 30% 449 35%
Stage 1 464 57% 703 56%
Stage 2 100 12% 100 8%
Stage 3 11 1% 11 1%
Stage 4 - - -* -
Total 814 100% 1,263 100%
Note: The 2011 figures use 2012 data to include all gains and losses over the entire year.
The NETS Database is derived from the Dun & Bradstreet archival national establishment data, a population of known establishments in the
United States that is quality controlled and updated annually. Establishments include both private and public sector business units and range
in size from one employee (i.e., sole-proprietors and self-employed) to several thousand employees.
*ReferenceUSA indicates one Stage 4 company, however, NETS records this company as
a Stage 3 establishment. Additional information is available on the next slide.

17. 17
Top five employers in 2015
Economy
Source: ReferenceUSA (Infogroup) and Purdue Extension Community Development Southwest Regional Office
section 03
Establishment Stage
1. Waupaca Foundry Stage 4
2.
Branchville Correctional
Facility
Stage 3
3. Walmart Supercenter Stage 3
4.
Perry County Memorial
Hospital
Stage 3
5. Accent Marketing Stage 3
The top five employers produce a mix of
local and local export goods and
services.
Waupaca Foundry inTell City is the largest
establishment-level employer in Perry County.
BothWaupaca Foundry andAccent Marketing
produce mainly local export goods and
services, while the Branchville Correctional
Facility,Walmart Supercenter, and Perry
County Memorial Hospital primarily support
the local community.
Information on the top five establishments by employment comes from ReferenceUSA. ReferenceUSA is a library database service provided
by Infogroup, the company that also supplies the list of major employers for Hoosiers by the Numbers. While both NETS and ReferenceUSA
contain establishments, differences in data collection processes result in discrepancies between the two sources. We use NETS for a broad
picture of establishments in the county, while ReferenceUSA is used for studying individual establishments.

18. 18
Number of jobs by stage/employment
category
Economy
Source: National Establishment Time Series (NETS) – 2012 Database
section 03
2000 2011
Stage Jobs* Proportion Jobs* Proportion
Stage 0 239 4% 449 7%
Stage 1 1,729 27% 2,254 32%
Stage 2 2,371 36% 2,376 34%
Stage 3 2,149 33% 1,912 27%
Stage 4 - - - -
Total 6,488 100% 6,991 100%
Note: The 2011 figures use 2012 data to include all gains and losses over the entire year.
*Includes both full-time and part-time jobs

19. 19
Amount of sales (2011 dollars) by
stage/employment category
Economy
Source: National Establishment Time Series (NETS) – 2012 Database
section 03
2000 2011
Stage Sales Proportion Sales Proportion
Stage 0 $26,873,034 3% $28,190,229 4%
Stage 1 $189,127,250 23% $161,337,489 26%
Stage 2 $240,740,609 30% $211,595,242 34%
Stage 3 $353,733,622 44% $222,337,600 36%
Stage 4 - - - -
Total $810,474,516 100% $623,460,560 100%
Note: The 2011 figures use 2012 data to include all gains and losses over the entire year.

20. 20
Manufacturing
25.1%
Government
18.1%
Retail Trade
11.0%
Accommodation &
Food Services
7.4%
Health Care &
Social Assistance
5.7%
All Other
Industries
32.8%
Top five industries in 2013
67.2 percent of jobs are tied to
one of the top five industries in
Perry County.
Manufacturing is the largest industry sector
(2,132 jobs). Health Care & Social Assistance
is the smallest of the top industry sectors
with 481 jobs. Four of these top five
industries primarily serve the local
population, suggesting that the county’s
economy is focused on local services.
Of the top five industries in Perry County,
Manufacturing (+26.1 percent) and
Accommodation & Food Services (+21.2
percent) gained jobs between 2002 and
2013.The other three top five industries lost
jobs over the same time period, with Health
Care & SocialAssistance losing the most,
9.4 percent.
Economy
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – 2014.3 – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors
section 03

21. 21
Industry distribution and change
NAICS
Code
Description
Jobs
2002
Jobs
2013
Change
(2002-2013)
% Change
(2002-2013)
Average Total
Earnings
2013
11 Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting 487 463 -24 -5% $29,364
21 Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction 45 28 -17 -38% $18,580
22 Utilities 57 50 -7 -12% $70,531
23 Construction 413 401 -12 -3% $29,411
31-33 Manufacturing 1,691 2,132 441 26% $64,025
42 Wholesale Trade 90 68 -22 -24% $61,994
44-45 Retail Trade 966 931 -35 -4% $22,281
48-49 Transportation & Warehousing 159 195 36 23% $35,271
51 Information 55 53 -2 -4% $52,129
52 Finance & Insurance 268 307 39 15% $102,761
53 Real Estate & Rental & Leasing 174 331 157 90% $30,850
54 Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 149 147 -2 -1% $35,945
55 Management of Companies and Enterprises 32 27 -5 -16% $41,964
56 Administrative & Waste Management 231 226 -5 -2% $25,471
61 Educational Services (Private) 15 28 13 87% $13,527
62 Health Care & Social Assistance 531 481 -50 -9% $32,239
71 Arts, Entertainment & Recreation 74 59 -15 -20% $18,735
72 Accommodation and Food Services 520 630 110 21% $14,130
81 Other Services (except Public Administration) 474 403 -71 -15% $21,640
90 Government 1,579 1,537 -42 -3% $47,175
99 Unclassified Industry 0 0 0 0% $0
All Total 8,007 8,496 489 6% $42,685
Economy
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – 2014.3 – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors
section 03
Note: Average total earnings include wages, salaries, supplements and earnings from investments and proprietorships.

22. 22
Industry distribution and change
The largest percentage gains in
employment in Perry County
occurred in:
 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
(+90.2 percent)
 Educational Service, private (+86.7
percent)
The largest percentage losses in
employment occurred in:
 Mining,Quarrying, andOil and Gas
Extraction (-38.7 percent)
 WholesaleTrade (-24.4 percent)
Economy
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – 2014.3 – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors
section 03
Employment Increase Employment Decrease
Industries with the largest gains and losses
in employment numbers between 2002 &
2013:
Manufacturing
(+441)
Real Estate
(+157)
Accommodation &
Food Services
(+110)
Other Services
(-71)
HealthCare & Social
Assistance
(-50)
Government
(-42)

23. 23
Production
18.1%
Sales & Related
11.9%
Management*
9.3%
Office &
Administrative
Support
8.6%
Food Preparation
& Serving Related
7.5%
All Other
Occupations
44.5%
Top five occupations in 2013
The top five occupations in Perry
County represent 55.5 percent of all
jobs.
Production (1,542 jobs) is the top occupation in
Perry County. Food Preparation & Serving is the
smallest of the top five occupations, with 641
jobs. Four of the top five occupations focus on
providing local services; however, production
occupations are the exception if their
manufactured goods are exported to other
counties, states, or countries.
Of the five top occupations in Perry County,
Production (+26.5 percent), Food Preparation
(+19.1 percent), and Sales & Related (+13.0
percent) occupations had the largest
percentage increase in jobs from 2002 to 2013.
Office & Administrative Support (-12.7 percent)
occupations lost the largest proportion of jobs.
Economy
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – 2014.3 – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors
section 03
*Management occupations include farm managers, so changes in jobs may be related to changes in the number of farm proprietorships.

24. 24
SOC Description
Jobs
2002
Jobs
2013
Change
(2002-2013)
% Change
(2002-2013)
Hourly
Earnings 2013
11 Management 794 789 -5 -1% $20.76
13 Business & Financial Operations 247 268 21 9% $28.30
15 Computer & Mathematical 50 48 -2 -4% $25.04
17 Architecture & Engineering 152 147 -5 -3% $32.06
19 Life, Physical & Social Science 33 30 -3 -9% $25.31
21 Community & Social Service 112 86 -26 -23% $18.92
23 Legal 43 36 -7 -16% $30.17
25 Education, Training & Library 239 487 248 104% $17.54
27 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media 124 108 -16 -13% $17.11
29 Health Care Practitioners & Technical 391 244 -147 -38% $26.80
31 Health Care Support 223 170 -53 -24% $11.59
33 Protective Service 182 140 -42 -23% $16.55
35 Food Preparation & Serving Related 538 641 103 19% $8.91
37 Building & Grounds Cleaning Maintenance 219 292 73 33% $9.54
39 Personal Care & Service 316 290 -26 -8% $9.26
41 Sales & Related 897 1,014 117 13% $13.46
43 Office & Administrative Support 837 731 -106 -13% $14.29
45 Farming, Fishing & Forestry 41 61 20 49% $13.01
47 Construction & Extraction 412 393 -19 -5% $15.14
49 Installation, Maintenance & Repair 315 341 26 8% $18.74
51 Production 1,219 1,542 323 26% $16.43
53 Transportation & Material Moving 534 555 21 4% $14.74
55 Military 62 62 0 0% $18.10
99 Unclassified 27 22 -5 -19% $15.76
All Total 8,007 8,496 489 6% $16.24
Occupation distribution and change
Economy
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – 2014.3 – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors
section 03

25. 25
Occupation distribution and change
Economy
Source: Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) – 2014.3 – QCEW Employees, Non-QCEW Employees, Self-Employed, and Extended Proprietors
section 03
The largest percentage gains in
employment in Perry County
occurred in:
 Education,Training, and Library
(+103.8 percent)
 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry
(+48.8 percent)
The largest percentage losses in
employment occurred in:
 Health Care Practitioners and
Technical (-37.6 percent)
 Health Care Support (-23.8 percent)
Occupations with the largest gains and
losses in employment numbers between
2002 & 2013:
Production
(+323)
Education,Training,
& Library
(+248)
HealthCare
Practitioners
(-147)
Office &
Administrative
(-106)
Employment Increase Employment Decrease

26. 26
Income and poverty
2000 2006 2013
Total Population in
Poverty
8.8% 12.3% 14.2%
Minors (up to age 17)
in Poverty
10.8% 16.4% 19.4%
Real Median Household
Income (2013)*
$49,187 $47,309 $45,722
Real Per Capita Income
(2013)*
$30,357 $31,788 $32,577
The median household income
in Perry County dipped by
$3,500 between 2000 and 2013
in real dollars (that is, adjusted
for inflation), while average
income per person rose by
$2,200 in real dollars over the
same time period.
The total population in poverty
swelled from 8.8 percent to 14.2
percent between 2000 and 2013. The
rate for minors was even higher,
increasing by nearly nine percentage
points over the same period of time.
Economy
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis – Regional Personal Income Summary
section 03
*Real median household income is the middle income value in the county. Half of the county’s households fall
above this line and half below. Real per capita personal income is the average income per person in the county.

27. 27
0
4
8
12
16
20
24
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
55,000
PopulationinPoverty(percent)
RealIncome(2013dollars)
Median Household
Income
Minors in Poverty
All Ages in
Poverty
Per Capita
Income
Income and poverty
Median household income in Perry County has experienced significant fluctuation over time,
showing some improvement since 2012. However, per capita income has been gradually
increasing since 2000. Poverty rates for adults and minors have gradually increased since
2000, and the 2013 rates remain high relative to the early 2000s.
Economy
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis – Regional Personal Income Summary
section 03

28. 28
Takeaways
Growth in the number of establishments in
Perry County occurred in businesses with
fewer than 10 employees (the self-
employed and Stage 1 enterprises),
components of the local economy that are
often overlooked but deserve closer
attention by local leaders.
While growth in establishments and employment
between 2000 and 2011 can be attributed to
Stage 0 and Stage 1 enterprises, the number of
establishments in Stages 2 and 3 remained
unchanged. However, Stage 2 establishments
comprise 34 percent of jobs but are only eight
percent of establishments. Perry County might
consider focusing on economic development
efforts that seek to strengthen high-growth Stage
1 and 2 establishments since they employ several
people and capture sizable sales.
Real median income has gradually decreased and
poverty has increased in Perry County since 2000.
As of 2013, poverty rates for minors and the total
population had not yet stabilized, and they remain
considerably higher than was the case in 2000.
The fluctuations and decline in real median income
experienced since 2000 may be tied to
employment changes in various industries in the
county during that time period. Job losses occurred
in both low and high paying industries.While the
largest job gains occurred in Manufacturing, with
average earnings of $64,000, large job gains also
occurred in Accommodation & Food Services with
average earnings of only $13,500.The largest job
losses between 2000 and 2013 occurred in
occupations paying over $25 per hour, while the
largest job gains over the same time period were in
occupations paying less than $18 per hour.
The ability to capture good paying jobs will depend
on the availability of a well-trained and educated
workforce, something that may be challenging in
light of the smaller percentage of adults in the
county with an associate’s degree or higher.
Economy
section 03

29. Labor force and
unemployment
Commuteshed
Laborshed
Workforce
inflow/outflow
Takeaways
04
labor
market

30. 30
Labor force and unemployment
2002 2013
Labor Force 9,424 9,475
Unemployment
Rate
5.2% 7.3%
The number of individuals in the
labor force in Perry County has not
changed between 2002 and 2013.
The number of individuals in the county’s
labor force has remained approximately
the same, and with the population
increase, the labor force participation
rate decreased by three percentage
points between 2000 and 2013 to 60
percent. In addition, the unemployment
rose by 2 percentage points from 2002 to
2013, indicating that the individuals in
the labor force are experiencing more
difficulty finding jobs than they were in
2002.
Labor market
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Local Area Unemployment Statistics (2013 Annual Data Release)
section 04

31. 31
4.5%
5.8%
4.5%
10.2%
7.3%
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
UnemploymentRate(percent)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment increased dramatically after 2007, peaking at 10.2 percent in 2009. Since
that time, the rate has been on a slow but steady decline, dipping to 7.3 percent by 2013.
Labor market
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Local Area Unemployment Statistics (2013 Annual Data Release)
section 04

32. 32
Commuteshed
A county’s commuteshed is the
geographic area to which its resident
labor force travels to work.
Sixty-seven percent of employed residents in
Perry County commute to jobs located
outside of the county. Dubois County,
Indiana, is the biggest destination for
residents who work outside of the county.
Twenty-two percent of out-commuters work
in counties adjacent to Perry County;
however, the second largest work destination
outside Perry County is the Evansville
metropolitan area (VanderburghCounty), and
fifth largest is the Indianapolis metropolitan
area (Marion County).
Labor market
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)
section 04
6,189
Out-Commuters
3,044
Same Work/
Home
Commuters Proportion
Dubois, IN 1,168 12.7%
Vanderburgh, IN 549 5.9%
Spencer, IN 467 5.1%
Hancock, KY 378 4.1%
Marion, IN 304 3.3%

33. 33
Commuteshed in 2011
Labor market
section 04
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD
Seventy percent of Perry County’s
working residents are employed in
Dubois, Marion, Perry, Posey, Spencer
orVanderburgh Counties in Indiana or
Daviess and Hancock Counties in
Kentucky. Another 5 percent commute
to Gibson, Warrick or Knox County,
Indiana. An additional 5 percent travel
to jobs in Allen, Crawford, Daviess,
Lake orTippecanoe Counties in
Indiana.
Collectively, these 16 counties
represent 80 percent of the
commuteshed for Perry County.

34. 34
Laborshed
Commuters Proportion
Spencer, IN 499 9.0%
Hancock, IN 311 5.6%
Daviess, IN 243 4.4%
Dubois, IN 157 2.8%
Vanderburgh, IN 142 2.6%
Labor market
Source: U.S. Census Bureau – Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)
section 04
2,515
In-Commuters
3,044
Same Work/
Home
A county’s laborshed is the geographic
area from which it draws employees.
Forty-five percent of individuals working in
Perry County commute from another
county.
Eighteen percent of in-commuters reside in
counties adjacent to Perry County. Spencer
County, Indiana, is the biggest source of
outside labor for Perry County; however,
the fifth largest residential source of
laborers outside Perry County is the
Evansville metropolitan area (Vanderburgh
County).

35. 35
Laborshed in 2011
Labor market
section 04
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD
The bulk (70 percent) of Perry
County’s workforce is drawn from
Hancock County, Kentucky,
Spencer County, Indiana, and Perry
County, Indiana. Another 5 percent
is drawn from Dubois,
Vanderburgh or Warrick Counties
in Indiana. An additional 5 percent
comes from Daviess
County, Kentucky.
Combined, the seven counties
represent 80 percent of Perry
County’s laborshed.

36. 36
Workforce inflow and outflow in 2011
Labor market
section 04
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, OTM, LEHD, PCRD
Perry County has more laborers traveling
out of the county for work than into the
county for work.
Net commuting is negative, with a loss of 3,674
commuters.The resulting situation is that for
every 100 employed residents, Perry County has
60 jobs.
Count
Proportio
n
Employed in Perry
County
5,559 100%
Both employed and living
in the county
3,044 55%
Employed in the county
but living outside
2,515 45%
Living in Perry County 9,233 100%
Both living and employed
in the county
3,044 33%
Living in the county but
employed outside
6,189 67%

37. 37
Takeaways
The Great Recession that impacted the U.S.
economy between 2007 and 2009 took a major toll
on the Perry County’s unemployment rate. While
the rate was quite low in 2000, it skyrocketed to
over 10 percent by 2009. Recent figures make
clear that the unemployment rate has steadily
improved since 2009.
Despite the modest increase in the population of
Perry County over the past decade or more, the
number of individuals in the county’s labor force
has remained the same since 2002.The decrease
in the labor force participation rate and increase in
the unemployment rate between 2002 and 2013
indicates that the Great Recession has likely made
it more difficult to find a job in Perry County,
leading to a larger proportion of discouraged
workers (workers who have given up trying to find
a job) in the county.
Approximately 70 percent of Perry County’s
residents in the workforce are gainfully employed
outside of the county.This represents a
tremendous loss of human talent that is
unavailable to contribute to the social and
economic vitality of the county. It may be
worthwhile for local leaders and industries to
determine the human capital attributes of
workers who commute to jobs outside the
county. By so doing, they could be positioned to
determine how best to reduce the leakage of
educated and skilled workers to surrounding
counties. Of course, this will require expansion in
the number of good paying jobs that will help
keep these workers in their home county.
The laborshed and commuteshed data
offer solid evidence of the value of
pursuing economic and workforce
development on a regional (multi-county)
basis.
Labor market
section 04

38. 38
Notes
LAUS (Local Area Unemployment Statistics):
LAUS is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) program that
provides monthly and annual labor force, employment and
unemployment data by place of residence at various geographic
levels. LAUS utilizes statistical models to estimate data values
based on household surveys and employer reports. These
estimates are updated annually. Annual county-level LAUS
estimates do not include seasonal adjustments.
LEHD (Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics):
LEHD is a partnership between U.S. Census Bureau and State
Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to provide labor
market and journey to work data at various geographic levels.
LEHD uses Unemployment Insurance earnings data and
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages from DWDs and
census administrative records related to individuals and
businesses.
NETS (National EstablishmentTime Series):
NETS is an establishment-level database, not a company-level
database. This means that each entry is a different physical
location, and company-level information must be created by
adding the separate establishment components.
OTM (On the Map):
OTM, a product of LEHD program, is used in the county
snapshot report to develop commuting patterns for a
geography from two perspectives: place of residence and place
of work. At the highly detailed level of census blocks, some of
the data are synthetic to maintain confidentiality of the
worker. However, for larger regions mapped at the county
level, the commuteshed and laborshed data are fairly
reasonable.
OTM includes jobs for a worker employed in the reference as
well as previous quarter. Hence, job counts are based on two
consecutive quarters (six months) measured at the “beginning
of a quarter.” OTM data can differ from commuting patterns
developed from state annual income tax returns, which asks a
question about “county of residence” and “county of work” on
January 1st of the tax-year. OTM can also differ from American
Community Survey data, which is based on a sample survey of
the resident population.
SAIPE (SmallArea Income and Poverty Estimates):
SAIPE is a U.S. Census Bureau program that provides annual
data estimates of income and poverty statistics at various
geographic levels. The estimates are used in the administration
of federal and state assistance programs. SAIPE utilizes
statistical models to estimate data from sample surveys,
census enumerations, and administrative records.

39. 39
Report Contributors
This report was prepared by the Purdue Center for Regional Development in partnership with
Purdue University Extension.
Data Analysis
Indraneel Kumar, Ph.D.
Ayoung Kim
Report Authors
Elizabeth Dobis
Bo Beaulieu, Ph.D.
Report Design
Tyler Wright
Purdue University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

40. FOR MORE
INFORMATION
Purdue Center for Regional Development
(PCRD) . . .
seeks to pioneer new ideas and strategies that contribute
to regional collaboration, innovation and prosperity.
Purdue Extension Community Development
(CD) . . .
works to strengthen the capacity of local leaders, residents
and organizations to work together to develop and sustain
strong, vibrant communities.
Please contact
Sara Dzimianski
County Extension Educator,
Agriculture & Natural Resources
812-547-7084
sdzimian@purdue.edu
PCRD
1341 Northwestern Avenue
West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-494-7273
pcrd@purdue.edu
OR