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Howard County, Arkansas, has an annual GDP of approximately 807 million dollars and a GDP per capita of 63,116 dollars, reflecting a growth rate of 3.2% over the last year. This growth is notable compared to the state's overall GDP growth rate of 1.3% and the national rate of 1.9%. The county's economy is heavily reliant on goods production, contributing nearly 60% to its GDP, which is significantly higher than the state average of 22% and the national average of 17.4%. However, the county's GDP growth rate over the past 13 years has been modest at 0.44%, indicating potential challenges in sustaining long-term growth. In comparison to other counties in Arkansas, Howard County's GDP per capita is lower than Pulaski and Benton counties, which have per capita figures of 91,000 and 74,948 dollars, respectively, highlighting disparities in economic prosperity within the state.
Howard County, AR exhibits an employment rate of 68.6% 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%. However, the county shows a strong employment rate of 85.8% for those with a Bachelor's degree, surpassing both the state (83.5%) and national (84.3%) figures. The high school graduate employment rate in Howard County is 62.1%, which is notably lower than the state average of 63.4%. Additionally, the county's employment rate for Black individuals stands at 51.6%, which is higher than the state average of 52.1%. Overall, while Howard County faces challenges in overall employment rates, its educational attainment reflects positively in employment outcomes, particularly for degree holders.
Howard County, AR, exhibits a Mean Household Income of $44,824 and a Median Household Income of $61,924, both significantly lower than the state averages of $56,335 and $79,592, respectively. The Income Per Capita stands at $25,458, which is also below the state average of $31,868. Comparatively, Howard County's income levels are among the lowest in Arkansas, with only a few counties like Jefferson and Miller showing lower figures. The Gini index of 0.4513 indicates a moderate level of income inequality, slightly better than the state average of 0.4821. Additionally, 16.2% of households earn less than $20,000, highlighting economic challenges in the region. Overall, Howard County's economic indicators suggest a need for targeted development strategies to improve income levels and reduce poverty.