Key Indicators – Highlands County
Labor Force and Unemployment | Total Workforce
Employment in Highlands County
Employment by Industry
Employment by Industry – Highlands County
Employment by Occupation
Employment by Occupation – Highlands County
Earnings by Occupation
Earnings by Occupation – Highlands County
This graph illustrates the proportion of the workforce in Highlands 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 $55,581 the median household income of Highlands County is in the lowest 40% of counties in the state of Florida, however, the MHI of Highlands County is higher than that of most of the neighboring counties.
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 15.4%, Highlands County has one of the highest percentages of county residents living below the Federal Poverty Line. The percentage of individuals living below the Federal Poverty Line in Highlands County is amongst the highest 40% of all counties in the state of Florida.
Source: Individuals Below Poverty Level (Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – Children Living in Poverty (0-18 years)
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 22%, Highlands County has one of the higher percentages of children(0 – 18 years) living in households considered below the Federal Poverty Line. 60% of Florida counties have a lower percentage of children living in households below the Federal Poverty Line.
Source: Individuals Below Poverty Level (Aged 0-17 Years)(Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Map – 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.
15.7% of Highlands County residents receive SNAP or other direct cash assistance benefits from the government. 60% of Florida counties have a lower percentage of children living in households receiving SNAP or other cash assistance benefits. Most counties surrounding Highlands have higher percentages of residents receiving SNAP or cash assistance benefits.
Source: Households Receiving Cash Public Assistance of Feed Stamps (Census ACS), FLhealthcharts.gov, 2023
Economy Statistics – Highlands 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.
