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Carroll County, Arkansas, has demonstrated a robust economic performance with an annual GDP of approximately 1.16 billion dollars and a notable GDP growth rate of 6.6% over the last year, significantly outpacing the state growth rate of 1.3% and the national rate of 1.9%. The county's GDP per capita stands at 40,768 dollars, which is below the state average of 54,988 dollars but reflects a strong local economy, particularly in goods production, which contributes 43.2% to its GDP—much higher than the state average of 22%. This indicates a diverse economic base, with a healthy balance between goods-producing and service-providing sectors. Compared to neighboring counties, Carroll County's growth rate and goods-producing contribution highlight its potential as a regional economic driver, especially in contrast to counties like Pulaski and Benton, which have lower goods-producing percentages.
Carroll County, AR exhibits an employment rate of 68.2% for individuals aged 20-64, which is slightly below the Arkansas state average of 69.3% and significantly lower than the national average of 73.8%. The county's employment rate for those with a Bachelor's degree stands at 68.9%, notably lower than both the state (83.5%) and national (84.3%) figures. Additionally, Carroll County's high school graduate employment rate of 62.6% lags behind the state average of 63.4%. However, it is noteworthy that Carroll County has a remarkably high employment rate of 76.1% for Black individuals, surpassing both state (52.1%) and national (57.2%) averages. Overall, while Carroll County shows strengths in diversity of employment, it faces challenges in overall employment rates compared to both state and national benchmarks.
Carroll County, AR, exhibits a mean household income of $56,826 and a median household income of $71,631, which are slightly above the state averages of $56,335 and $79,592, respectively. However, both figures remain significantly lower than the national averages of $75,149 and $105,833. The county's income per capita stands at $29,123, indicating a modest economic output per individual compared to the state’s $31,868. Carroll County has a Gini index of 0.4498, suggesting a relatively lower income inequality compared to other counties in Arkansas, such as Pulaski County (0.5170) and Benton County (0.4565). Notably, 17.5% of households earn less than $20,000, which is higher than the state average of 16.3%, highlighting ongoing economic challenges within the region. Overall, Carroll County reflects a mixed economic landscape, with some strengths in income levels but persistent issues in poverty.