What’s in the 2015 data booklet

Posted by Lake Superior Community Partnership on August 29, 2016

Each summer for the past couple years, the LSCP has completed our Data Booklet. The data booklet is created with the help of Economic Modeling Specialists Incorporated (EMSI) Developer tool. EMSI compiles data from over 90 different federal, state and private data sources to create a clear image of the economic situation within Marquette County. This report uses historical trends to look into the past economic activity, and then uses those trends and published formulas to make predictions about the future.

The LSCP develops this report as new data is released from EMSI. By using this report, businesses and community members in Marquette County can track the county’s economic path to prosperity and better position themselves for economic success in the future. Many businesses and governmental decisions made today are data driven creating the need for factual, timely data that can be used consistently in the community. The sections regarding job forecasts and population are extremely helpful in economic development strategic planning.

The unemployment rate has been a statistic we’ve always followed very closely. For Marquette County, we hit a high of 10.4% in 2009 which was still over 3 points lower than the State of Michigan at 13.7%. Fortunately we have seen a steady decline since then landing at 5.7% in 2015 which mirrored the decrease at the state level as well (5.4% for the State of Michigan). Historically, Marquette County’s unemployment rate has been below Michigan (with the exception of last year, the county exceeded the state by less than half a percentage point) and above the U.S. The fact that the peak was reached in 2009 near the end of the recession suggests that Marquette County was slightly buffered from the effects of the recession, but not completely isolated.

In 2015 we saw manufacturing add 121 jobs, transportation and warehousing add 217 jobs, management of companies and enterprises add 51 jobs and accommodation and food services add 34 jobs. Recreation and management employment sectors continue to grow as demand for these services are increasing due to additional dollars being injected into the local economy, and the overall growth of employment requires additional supervisory expertise. Government and Health Care are the two leading industries holding the most jobs for 2015, just as 2014.

The data booklet also includes a ten year population forecast. For 2015, data shows our population is 67,883 in Marquette County. Contrary to the entire Upper Peninsula, Marquette County’s population has been rising through the 2000’s and is projected to keep increasing through 2025. Over the next 10 year span of 2015-2025, Marquette County’s population is expected to increase by 638 people, or less than 1%. Over that same period of time, the population of the U.P. is projected to drop by 4,791 people or -1.6%. Despite a period of rapid growth in the early 2000s, Michigan’s population declined sharply as a result of the recession starting in 2008. Michigan’s population is projected to steadily grow throughout the next 10 years

The recently released LSCP data booklet reflects information from 2015 as well as future year projections. To view the booklet in its entirety, visit www.marquette.org and click on Site Selection and Marquette County Data Booklet. The LSCP is also able to provide data and research services specific to your business or organization. If you have any further questions call 906.226.6591 or email mvantilburg@marquette.org.

Amy Clickner, CEO, writes a bi-weekly column for the Mining Journal.