Key Indicators – Polk County
Labor Force and Unemployment | Total Workforce
Employment in Polk County
Employment by Industry
Employment by Industry – Polk County
Employment by Occupation
Employment by Occupation – Polk County
Earnings by Occupation
Earnings by Occupation – Polk County
This graph illustrates the proportion of the workforce in Polk County occupied by each of its most common jobs, along with the median earnings for each.
Maps | Economy & Employment Opportunity
Map – Median Household Income
Median Household Income (MHI) is used as a comparison of earnings in communities. Household Income is the total of all earnings reported for every member of the house 15 years and older. Median Household Income designates the value at which 50% of the population earns less than that value, and 50% of the population of the given community earns more than that value.
At $63,644, the median household income of Polk County exceeds 43% of counties in Florida but falls below the state median of $66,154. Polk County’s MHI is similar to that of most neighboring counties with comparable populations.
Map – Population Living in Poverty (All Ages)
The Federal Poverty Threshold is determined yearly by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS defines a family below the federal poverty threshold as a family with an income below the calculated minimum needed to provide basic needs (housing, food, etc.) for a family of that size. Federal Poverty Threshold varies depending on many factors, most notably, number of family members.
At 14.7%, the percentage of Polk County residents living in households below the Federal Poverty Line, is near the state median poverty rate. Approximately 50% of surrounding counties have a lower poverty rate and approximately 50% of surrounding counties have a higher poverty rate than Polk County.
Source: Individuals Below Poverty Level (Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Children Living in Poverty (0-18 years)
Human Services(HHS). HHS defines a family below the federal poverty threshold as a family with an income below the calculated minimum needed to provide basic needs (housing, food, etc.) for a family of that size. Federal Poverty Threshold varies depending on many factors, most notably, number of family members.
Polk County has one of the higher percentages of children(0 – 18 years) living in households considered below the Federal Poverty Line. 64% of Florida counties have a lower percentage of children living in impoverished households.
Source: Individuals Below Poverty Level (Aged 0-17 Years)(Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Cash Assistance / SNAP Benefits
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program(SNAP), more commonly known as food stamps, is a government anti-hunger program designed to assist low income households in obtaining staple foods of high and essential nutritional value. This map shows the percentage of individuals either receiving SNAP benefits or other means of direct cash assistance for housing or cost of living.
15.3% of Polk County residents receive SNAP or other direct cash assistance benefits from the government. 55% of Florida counties have a lower percentage of children living in households receiving SNAP or other cash assistance benefits. Many rural counties immediately south of Polk County have higher percentages of residents receiving SNAP or cash assistance benefits, however, more metropolitan counties north of Polk tend to have lower percentages of residents receiving government benefits.
Source: Households Receiving Cash Public Assistance of Feed Stamps (Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Economic Statistics – Polk County
ALICE Dashboard
Some families exceed the income level of the Federal Poverty Line, but still struggle to collect enough income to make ends meet and provide basic necessities. These families fall below the ALICE threshold.
ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and represents the growing number of families who are unable to afford the basics of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology. These workers often struggle to keep their own households from financial ruin, while keeping our local communities running.
