Home : Quarterly Newsletters : MarketShare Newsletter : 2007

2007

2007

Natives and Immigrants: Population Growth in Greater Cincinnati

Adapted from the work and research of Gary Wright, President, Wright Futures LTD

Migration is a barometer of the overall attractiveness of the region as a place where people choose to live and work. Over the last several years, the slow-down of the population in the Cincinnati region has been caused by of more people choosing to leave the region for other parts of the country than are choosing to move here.

Revitalizing Over-the-Rhine

Perhaps no other community in our region has been a source of more contention than Over-the-Rhine. According to the 2000 census, 57 percent of Over-the-Rhine's (OTR) 7,000 residents live under the poverty level. In 2006, there were 1,579 serious crimes in this area alone. The riots of 2001 began and ended in OTR. Yet, without denying the obvious challenges this community faces daily, it is important to recognize strides made to revitalize this community and asses its untapped economic and market potential.

Can the Cincinnati Economy Compete Nationally?

While the national economy is fundamentally in good shape, the question of interest locally is how does Cincinnati measure up? Nationally, factors such as continued investment in new technologies and tools, significant investment in education, and a long lasting commitment to an open economy have contributed to our increased capacity and productivity. However, for the last decade, Cincinnati's economy has grown more slowly than the nation as a whole and experiencing a problem of labor shortage.

Narrowing the Male/Female Wage Gap

The percentage of working-age women who are working or actively seeking work has been on the rise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of labor force participation of female workers has increased from 32 percent in January 1948 to 60.4 percent in January 2001. As number of employed women continued to increase, so did their wages. Yet, regionally and nationally, the differences in earning for male and female workers continue to exist.

Cultural and Recreational Venues Help the Economy

New money brought in by the visitors to our region has a vital role in replenishing the local economy. An Economics Center impact study conducted for the Fine Arts Fund (FAF) in 2006 showed that FAF organizations had an impressive impact on the overall economic health of the region.