Takeaways

• As of 2023 the region's population increased by 3.1% since 2018, growing by 38,769. Population is expected to increase by 2.4% between 2023 and 2028, adding 31,163.
• From 2018 to 2023, jobs declined by 0.7% in new north counties REAL (18) from 680,651 to 675,940. This change fell short of the national growth rate of 4.3% by 5.0%. As the number of jobs declined, the labor force participation rate decreased from 67.5% to 65.0% between 2018 and 2023.
• Concerning educational attainment, 18.9% of the selected regions' residents possess a Bachelor's Degree (2.3% below the national average), and 12.7% hold an Associate's Degree (3.8% above the national average).
• The top three industries in 2023 are Restaurants and Other Eating Places, Education and Hospitals (Local Government), and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals.