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Garland County, Arkansas, has an annual GDP of approximately 4.2 billion dollars, with a GDP per capita of about 41,990 dollars. The county's GDP growth rate over the last year was a modest 0.3%, reflecting a slower economic expansion compared to the state average of 1.3% and the national rate of 1.9%. Over the past 13 years, Garland County's compound annual growth rate (CAGR) stands at 1.2%, which is slightly below Arkansas's 2.12% and significantly lower than the national average of 2.2%. The county's economy is heavily service-oriented, with 76.4% of its GDP coming from service-providing sectors, which is higher than the state average of 66.3%. This trend indicates a reliance on services, but the low growth rates suggest potential challenges in diversifying and enhancing economic resilience compared to more dynamic counties like Benton and Pulaski.
Garland County, AR, exhibits an employment rate of 68.5% 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 74%, also trailing behind the state (83.5%) and national (84.3%) figures. Notably, Garland County has a higher employment rate for seniors (8.5%) compared to the state (6.5%) and national (6.8%) averages, indicating a relatively better engagement of older workers. The employment rate for Black residents in Garland County is 49.5%, which is lower than both the state (52.1%) and national (57.2%) averages, highlighting potential disparities in employment opportunities. Overall, Garland County's employment metrics suggest room for improvement, particularly in higher education employment and racial equity.
Garland County, AR, exhibits a mean household income of $54,229 and a median household income of $73,126, which are below the state averages of $56,335 and $79,592, respectively. The county's income per capita stands at $31,854, slightly higher than the state average but significantly lower than the national average of $41,261. Notably, 16.9% of households earn less than $20,000, indicating a higher level of economic distress compared to the state average of 16.3%. The income inequality, as measured by the Gini index (0.4606), is relatively moderate, suggesting a more equitable income distribution than in Pulaski County (0.5170) but less so than Benton County (0.4565). Overall, Garland County's economic indicators reflect challenges that are common in many rural areas of Arkansas, highlighting the need for targeted economic development initiatives.