Key Indicators – Hardee County
Map – Labor Force & Unemployment
Employment in Hardee County
Employment by Industry
Employment by Industry – Hardee County
Employment by Occupation
Employment by Occupation – Hardee County
Earnings by Occupation
Earnings by Occupation – Hardee County
This graph illustrates the proportion of the workforce in Hardee County occupied by each of its ten most common jobs, along with the median earnings for each.
Maps – Economy & Employment Opportunity
Median Household Income (MHI)
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 $54,231 the median household income of Hardee County is in the lowest 40% of counties in the state of Florida.
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 24.3%, Hardee County has one of the highest percentages of county residents living below the Federal Poverty Line in Florida.
Source: Individuals Below Poverty Level (Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Childhood Poverty
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.
With 33% of its children (ages 0-18) living below the Federal Poverty Line, Hardee County ranks among the top 20% of counties in Florida for childhood poverty.
Source: Individuals Below Poverty Level (Aged 0-17 Years)(Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
SNAP and other Government 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.
28% of Hardee County’s population receives SNAP or Cash Assistance benefits. This puts Hardee County in the highest 20% of counties in terms of residents receiving government benefits.
Source: Households Receiving Cash Public Assistance of Feed Stamps (Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Economy Statistics – Hardee 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.
