When looking at the data for Chatham County between the years 1970 [1] and 2016 [2], we can see a 133% percent increase in population which could be explained by increased migration as well as the rise in job opportunities as the economy of the county and the state expanded. Additionally, the median household income has increased by 30%. This increase could be attributed to the rise in the number of people graduating from colleges who are joining the market along with increased number of companies willing to invest in the labor force of the county. Nevertheless, the pay gap between male and female workers has grown from a difference of $9,000 to $22,000 despite the calls for equal pay nationally and globally. Finally, when looking at the industry and employment we can notice the heavy dependence on manufacturing, 44% of the workforce, during the 70s mainly in the Textiles industry, but with increased foreign competition and the emergence of new sectors such as finance, healthcare, and technology service, the economy became more diversified, and by 2016 only 14% of the workforce was in manufacturing.
The following Table gives a summary of some characteristics of the county between 1970 and 2016:
References:
- 1970 census of housing. Volume 1, Housing characteristics for states, cities, and counties. Part 35, North Carolina.(1972). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Social and Economic Statistics Administration, Bureau of the Census.
- Chatham County, NC. (n.d.). Retrieved July 1, 2018, from
https://datausa.io/profile/geo/chatham-county-nc