Economic Development
As the economy changes, understanding major drivers of change—such as shifts in migration, a growing outdoor recreation economy, and the significance of nonlabor income—is critical to making sound decisions about how to improve economic performance.
Recreation Counties Attract New Residents and Higher Incomes
Recreation counties, especially in non-metro places, draw new residents and have higher incomes and faster earnings growth than places without recreation.
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The Outdoor Recreation Economy by State
The outdoor recreation economy is large, growing faster than the overall economy, and consists of jobs in many industries. Explore data by state.
The Changing Role of Manufacturing in the U.S. and Insights for the Rural West
Recent trends in manufacturing and what they mean for the people and communities of the American West, with insights for rural areas in particular.
Lessons from the Timber Transition
Western counties once dependent on timber today perform similarly to like-sized counties. Three case studies outline economic lessons from counties that weathered the timber transition.
