The growth or decline in total jobs, shown as a percentage gain or loss from the previous year.
Job growth is a key indicator of economic health and vitality and reveals whether and by how much an economy is expanding. In addition to the number of jobs, the quality of jobs should be considered. This is reflected in measures of average salary.
Essex County had job growth of 1.1% from 2016 to 2017, below the state and nation (both at 1.4%). Since 2001, the county has gained 18% to 464,500 jobs, a growth rate slightly higher than the state (17%) but equal to the nation (18%).
Essex County's latest annual rate of growth was below Middlesex, MA (1.5%) but similar to Lake County, IL and Westchester, NY (both at 1.2%). Since 2001, Essex County's job growth was higher than Lake (9%), and similar to Middlesex and Westchester (each 17%).
Data is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. County employment is reported by place of work, not place of residence. 2018 data for this indicator are expected to be released in the fourth quarter of 2019.
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | N/A | -1.1% | -0.7% | 1.1% | 0.9% | 0.9% | 1.7% | 0.4% | -1.7% | 0.5% | 1.8% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 1.7% | 4.5% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Middlesex County, MA | N/A | -2.9% | -1.6% | 0.5% | 1.7% | 1.5% | 2.8% | 1.0% | -2.2% | 0.3% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 2.2% | 2.4% | 4.6% | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| Lake County, IL | N/A | 0.3% | 0.3% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 2.0% | 0.4% | -2.4% | -1.9% | 0.0% | 2.1% | 0.9% | 0.8% | 1.0% | -0.6% | 1.2% |
| Westchester County, NY | N/A | 0.5% | 0.4% | 2.1% | 1.0% | 1.1% | 3.1% | 0.9% | -2.4% | -0.3% | 2.6% | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 0.9% | 1.2% |
| Massachusetts | N/A | -1.3% | -0.7% | 0.9% | 1.1% | 1.0% | 2.3% | 0.3% | -2.4% | -0.0% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 2.4% | 2.2% | 4.1% | 1.7% | 1.4% |
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County, MA | 393,504 | 389,319 | 386,740 | 391,074 | 394,554 | 398,143 | 405,025 | 406,600 | 399,773 | 401,899 | 409,309 | 418,044 | 427,965 | 435,212 | 454,892 | 459,563 | 464,495 |
| Middlesex County, MA | 1,062,266 | 1,031,503 | 1,014,982 | 1,019,559 | 1,036,466 | 1,051,914 | 1,081,319 | 1,091,613 | 1,067,868 | 1,070,657 | 1,082,306 | 1,101,035 | 1,125,158 | 1,152,012 | 1,205,322 | 1,223,383 | 1,241,453 |
| Lake County, IL | 428,663 | 430,000 | 431,237 | 435,886 | 443,365 | 450,476 | 459,342 | 461,046 | 450,175 | 441,442 | 441,638 | 450,725 | 454,875 | 458,566 | 462,979 | 460,334 | 465,734 |
| Westchester County, NY | 537,285 | 540,010 | 542,234 | 553,429 | 559,012 | 565,054 | 582,796 | 588,329 | 573,972 | 572,419 | 587,319 | 590,166 | 595,047 | 605,425 | 616,088 | 621,364 | 628,571 |
| Massachusetts | 4,075,959 | 4,021,589 | 3,991,991 | 4,028,638 | 4,071,326 | 4,110,415 | 4,202,942 | 4,215,669 | 4,115,997 | 4,115,539 | 4,175,311 | 4,253,327 | 4,353,568 | 4,448,624 | 4,631,712 | 4,710,176 | 4,777,678 |
| INDICATORS | TREND | ESSEX COUNTY |
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