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Dallas County, Alabama, with an annual GDP of approximately 1.44 billion dollars and a GDP per capita of 37,536 dollars, is experiencing significant economic challenges, evidenced by a GDP growth rate of -5% over the last year and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -0.82% over the past 13 years. This decline contrasts sharply with Alabama's overall GDP growth rate of 1.7% and the national average of 1.9%. While the state has a higher GDP per capita of 55,999 dollars, Dallas County's economic performance lags behind other counties such as Jefferson and Madison, which boast GDPs of 57.87 billion and 32.31 billion dollars, respectively. The county's reliance on government contributions to GDP, at 13.9%, indicates a potential vulnerability in its economic structure, highlighting the need for diversification and revitalization strategies to foster growth.
Dallas County, AL exhibits a notably low employment rate of 61.4% for individuals aged 20-64, significantly trailing behind the state average of 68.7% and the national average of 73.8%. However, the county boasts a high employment rate of 87.9% for those with a Bachelor's degree, surpassing both the state (82.6%) and national (84.3%) figures. This suggests that while higher education is a strong asset in Dallas County, the overall job market may be struggling to provide opportunities for the broader population, particularly for high school graduates, where the county's rate of 54.1% is below the state (63.3%) and national (67.9%) averages. Additionally, the employment rate for Black residents at 45.3% indicates significant disparities compared to the state (52.5%) and national (57.2%) levels, highlighting ongoing challenges in economic equity within the region.
Dallas County, AL, exhibits significant economic challenges compared to both state and national averages. With a mean household income of $37,180 and a median household income of $53,213, it falls well below Alabama's state averages of $59,609 and $82,992, respectively. The income per capita of $22,798 is also notably lower than the state average of $33,344. Furthermore, Dallas County has a high percentage of households earning less than $20,000 (28.7%), which is substantially higher than the state average of 16.6% and the national average of 12.1%. The income inequality, indicated by a Gini index of 0.4894, suggests a moderate level of income disparity, but it is less pronounced than in Jefferson County, AL, which has a Gini index of 0.5049. Overall, Dallas County's economic indicators highlight a pressing need for development and support to improve living standards.