There has been an overall decrease in employment of 3.9 percent between 2010 and 2013, with the majority of this decline happening between 2009 and 2010. There have been modest increases in employment between 2011 and 2013, but not enough to offset the previous decreases. There are three factors effecting the change in employment overtime. Workers move into and out of the area, migration. Workers choose to be active in the labor market, or not, participation. Then there are also workers that are active in the labor market, but have been unable to find employment, unemployment. 1 Douglas County Change in Employment 2010 2011 2012 2013 Total Change in Employment -6.2% 1.5% 0.6% 0.3% -3.9% Due to Migration -5.1% 0.8% 0.9% 0.9% -2.4% Due to Participation -1.0% 0.9% -0.1% -0.9% -1.1% Due to Change in Unemployed 0.1% 0.2% 0.2% -0.3% 0.3% Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Between 2009 and 2013 all three of these factors were changing in a ways that would indicate a soft labor market in Douglas County. During this time there was a net out-migration of workers; more workers left the area than moved into the area, of 2.4 percent. At the same time fewer workers living in the area chose to participate in the labor market, decreasing employment by 1.1 percent. Also over this time, the unemployment rate remained relatively stable. These three factors together indicate a soft labor market that would put downward pressure on wages. Lower wages can be helpful to employers in keeping costs low, but potentially problematic for employees. The overall annual average unemployment rate in Douglas County has not changed significantly between 2010 and 2013, a further indication of a loose labor market. However, during that time there has been a decrease in the annual average unemployment among the male population and an increase in the annual average unemployment in the female population. The overall change in employment is calculated by adding the change due to migration and the change due to 1 participation, and subtracting the change due to unemployment.
There has been an overall decrease in employment of 3.9 percent between 2010 and 2013, with the majority of this decline happening between 2009 and 2010. There have been modest increases in employment between 2011 and 2013, but not enough to offset the previous decreases. There are three factors effecting the change in employment overtime. Workers move into and out of the area, migration. Workers choose to be active in the labor market, or not, participation. Then there are also workers that are active in the labor market, but have been unable to find employment, unemployment. 1 Douglas County Change in Employment 2010 2011 2012 2013 Total Change in Employment -6.2% 1.5% 0.6% 0.3% -3.9% Due to Migration -5.1% 0.8% 0.9% 0.9% -2.4% Due to Participation -1.0% 0.9% -0.1% -0.9% -1.1% Due to Change in Unemployed 0.1% 0.2% 0.2% -0.3% 0.3% Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey Between 2009 and 2013 all three of these factors were changing in a ways that would indicate a soft labor market in Douglas County. During this time there was a net out-migration of workers; more workers left the area than moved into the area, of 2.4 percent. At the same time fewer workers living in the area chose to participate in the labor market, decreasing employment by 1.1 percent. Also over this time, the unemployment rate remained relatively stable. These three factors together indicate a soft labor market that would put downward pressure on wages. Lower wages can be helpful to employers in keeping costs low, but potentially problematic for employees. The overall annual average unemployment rate in Douglas County has not changed significantly between 2010 and 2013, a further indication of a loose labor market. However, during that time there has been a decrease in the annual average unemployment among the male population and an increase in the annual average unemployment in the female population. 1 The overall change in employment is calculated by adding the change due to migration and the change due to participation, and subtracting the change due to unemployment.