FY 2024 Housing Needs Assessment Sections:

Jump to: Executive Summary | Table of Contents | Homeownership | Rental Housing | Utilities & Transportation | Housing Insecurity | Housing Stock | Health | Income & Labor | Demographics | How Ohio Compares

Income and Labor

This section gives information on Ohio's economic indicators, such as poverty rates, income levels, and unemployment rates. These provide important context on the ability to afford housing.

Section Highlights

  • Adjusted for inflation, household incomes are declining. After a period of improvement from 2011 to 2019, when it peaked at nearly $65,000 per year, the median household income in Ohio has fallen for two years in a row. By 2021 the annual median was a little over $62,000.
  • The poverty rate is on the rise again, after falling steadily from 2011 to 2020, when it reached a 15 year low of 12.6%. In 2021 the percentage of Ohio households living below the federal poverty level rose to 13.3%, higher than the national average (12.8%). In 2021 Black Ohioans were nearly three times likelier to live in poverty than white Ohioans (28% versus 11%). However, this poverty gap (17 points) is tied for the smallest it's been since 2006, having generally narrowed since peaking in 2012 at 23 percentage points.
  • The unemployment rate in Ohio has returned to pre-pandemic levels, having peaked at 16% in April 2020. As of December 2022, the unemployment rate remained low (4.1%), though higher than the national average (3.7%).
  • At the same time, labor force participation among Ohio's working age population remains low. Although the participation rate has increased from the record low of 59% in April 2020, it has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. As of December 2022, the labor force participation rate remained below average (61%) and less than the national rate (62%). Longterm reduced participation in the workforce has presented serious hiring challenges for employers.
  • As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, more Ohioans are working from home. In February 2020, one-in-five business establishments in Ohio allowed at least some of its employees to telework, accounting for 25% of the workforce. By September 2022, one-in-four Ohio establishments allowed working from home, which increased the share of the workforce that can telework to 36%. This includes 3% who work remotely all the time.

Jump to: Household Income | Poverty | Labor Force Participation | Unemployment | Teleworking

Please be advised that the following maps and data visualizations are provided for informational purposes only. Load times will vary depending on your internet connection speed. To download the data for a specific map or data visualization, first click in the white space of the graphic, click the "Download" button below and then click "Data" in the menu that pops up. You may also access most of the data through the downloadable tables in Excel posted lower down on the page.


Household Income



Household Income Distribution by Tenure

Source: IPUMS USA, University of Minnesota (based on 2021 one-year estimates)

Median Household Income

Source: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), U.S. Census Bureau

Income Gap Ratio, 80th & 20th Percentiles

Source: American Community Survey (ACS) One-Year Estimates, Table B19080

Income Gap Ratio, White & Black Householders

Source: American Community Survey (ACS) One-Year Estimates, Tables B19013A & B19013B



Median Household Income

Source: 2021 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), U.S. Census Bureau

Change in Median Household Income

Source: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), U.S. Census Bureau

Income Gap Ratio, 80th & 20th Percentiles

Source: 2017–2021 American Community Survey (ACS) Five-Year Estimates, 2021 ACS One-Year Estimates, Table B19080


Poverty


Poverty Rates for the United States & Ohio

Source: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), U.S. Census Bureau

Poverty Rate Gap, Black & White

Source: American Community Survey (ACS) One-Year Estimates, Tables B17001A and B17001B


Poverty Rate by Region

Source: 2021 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), U.S. Census Bureau

Poverty Rate

Source: 2021 Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE), U.S. Census Bureau

Poverty Rate Gap, Black & White, by Region

Source: 2017–2021 American Community Survey (ACS) Five-Year Estimates, 2021 ACS One-Year Estimates, Tables B17001A and B17001B


Labor Force Participation


Monthly Labor Force Participation Rate, U.S. & Ohio

Source: Local Area Unemployment Estimates, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics


Labor Force Participation Rate by Region

Source: Local Area Unemployment Estimates, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (based on 2022 annual averages); 2017–2021 American Community Survey (ACS) Five-Year Estimates, Tables S1810 & S1811

Labor Force Participation Rate

Source: Local Area Unemployment Estimates, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (based on 2022 annual averages); 2017–2021 American Community Survey (ACS) Five-Year Estimates, Tables S1810 & S1811


Unemployment


Monthly Unemployment Rates for the U.S. & Ohio

Source: Local Area Unemployment Estimates, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics


Unemployment Rate by Region

Source: Local Area Unemployment Estimates, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (based on 2022 annual averages)

Unemployment Rate

Source: Local Area Unemployment Estimates, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (based on 2022 annual averages)


Teleworking


Telework Employment, Pre- & Post-Pandemic

Source: Business Response Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Telework Employment, U.S. & Ohio, by Frequency

Source: 2022 Business Response Survey, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Downloadable Tables

Related Reports

Notes

Inflationary adjustments are based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), for "all items less shelter."

Poverty status can only be determined for individuals in households and therefore the denominator excludes individuals living in group quarters such as college dormitories, correctional facilities, and nursing homes.

BLS only surveyed private sector business establishments about teleworking policies. "Pre-Pandemic" survey responses from February 2020. "Post-Pandemic" responses from August and September 2022.

Ohio Regions are defined at the county level by TourismOhio, part of the Ohio Department of Development.

Data Sources