Commuting Profile: Southwest Region
Of the 95,681 workers employed in the Southwest WDA in 2023, 70.9 percent commuted to work from within the region. The remainder (29.1%) commuted into the Southwest WDA from homes outside of the region. The top five counties where Southwest WDA residents work in private primary jobs (from most to least) are Jasper, Newton, Greene, Barry, and Lawrence.
New Tool Available for Local Employment and Wage Data
The Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) program provides data on employment and wages reported by employers, covering more than 95 percent of U.S. jobs available at the county, state, and national levels by detailed industry. A new interactive dashboard on the MERIC website can be used to explore QCEW data both by geography and industry. Users can customize the data for counties, MSAs, or workforce development areas, as well as by industry sector and ownership. This tool makes it easier for local workforce and economic developers to access and customize this valuable data for their specific uses.
Videos
Click on the following link to view instructional videos on how to use and view reports and data on the MERIC website.
