What does this measure?

The number of employed people living in the Greater Capital Region, divided by the population of 16- to 64-year-olds.

Why is this important?

The employment-to-population ratio is an indicator of people's willingness and ability to find work. In a period of rapid economic growth, a larger share of the population (including teens, second earners in a family, and elders) will be enticed into the workforce. The statistic indicates the health of an economy, particularly when considered along with the unemployment rate, which measures the proportion of the workforce unemployed and seeking work.

How is the Greater Capital Region performing?

In 2006, the employment-to-population ratio was about 77%, higher than the nation (75%) and the state (72%). This was down from the 2000 level of 79%. The nation experienced a similar decline. New York State has remained unchanged from the 2000 level. The Capital Region has been consistently higher than New York State and the nation. Saratoga County has constantly had the highest ratio, averaging 81% since 2000.

Notes about the data

For this indicator, people are counted where they live, not where they work. To calculate these rates, CGR used figures for the population 16 to 64 not living in institutions (including jails, prisons, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and boarding schools) from the 1990 and 2000 Census and 2006 American Community Survey. CGR interpolated the intervening years.