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Clarke County, Alabama, has an annual GDP of approximately 1.06 billion dollars and a GDP per capita of 45,922 dollars, reflecting a challenging economic environment with a recent GDP growth rate of -3.3%. This decline contrasts sharply with Alabama's overall GDP growth rate of 1.7% and the national average of 1.9%. Notably, Clarke County's economy is heavily reliant on goods production, contributing 43.5% to its GDP, which is significantly higher than the state average of 22.2%. However, the county's GDP growth rate over the past 13 years has stagnated at just 0.1%, indicating persistent economic struggles. Compared to other counties in Alabama, Clarke County's economic performance is weaker, particularly when juxtaposed with counties like Madison and Mobile, which have shown more robust growth and higher GDP per capita figures.
Clarke County, AL exhibits a notably low employment rate of 55.9% for individuals aged 20-64, significantly trailing behind the state average of 68.7% and the national average of 73.8%. The county's employment rate for high school graduates (56.1%) is also below the state (63.3%) and national (67.9%) figures, indicating potential challenges in job accessibility or economic opportunities. Furthermore, the employment rate for Black residents in Clarke County is particularly concerning at 37.1%, well below Alabama's average of 52.5%. In comparison to nearby counties, such as Mobile (67.1%) and Jefferson (71.8%), Clarke County's figures suggest a need for targeted economic development initiatives to enhance workforce participation and educational attainment, ultimately fostering a more robust local economy.
Clarke County, AL, exhibits a mean household income of $47,549 and a median household income of $71,413, both significantly lower than the state averages of $59,609 and $82,992, respectively. The county's income per capita stands at $29,310, which is also below the state average of $33,344. Notably, Clarke County has a higher percentage of households earning less than $20,000 (22.2%) compared to the state average of 16.6%, indicating a greater level of economic distress. The income inequality, as measured by the Gini index at 0.5290, is notably higher than both the state (0.4797) and national averages (0.4829), suggesting a widening gap between the affluent and the less fortunate. Overall, Clarke County faces economic challenges relative to both state and national benchmarks, highlighting the need for targeted economic development initiatives.