AQUA BOOK 2014 | Page 23

Kleberg County BY THE NUMBERS 2013 Population 31,960 Employment 16,828 Unemployment Rate 5.8% Wages Per Employee $43,999 Average Personal Income $37,387 Sales Volume ($ mil) 907 New Home Value $241,600 — % National Average 108% Kleberg county’s Employment Growth economy has shown 10 15% both strength and stability in 8 10% comparison to the 6 rest of the Coastal 5% Bend. Naval Air 4 Station Kingsville 0% is a major local 2 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 employer. As such, 0 both the population -5% and employment of the county -10% are subject to workforce changes in its military base. With a large federal from the Great Recession of 2007-2009. government workforce, the county Local employment growth peaked escaped much of the economic impact in late 2011, and then slowed down Industry Composition by Employment, 2013 Unclassified Industry 0.1% Construction 2.8% Transportation & Warehousing 2.9% Manufacturing 0.8% 1.8% Finance & Wholesale Trade Insurance 0.9% 2.1% Information 0.6% Retail Trade 11.3% Real Estate & Professional Rental & Scientific 1.5% Agriculture 2.9% Mining Government 35.0% Utilities 0.2% Health Care & Social Assistance 18.5% Other Services (except Public Admin) 3.1% Accommodation Arts & & Food Services Recreation 10.6% 0.2% Change From 2012 -0.2% 0.6% -0.1% 0.4% 4.2% 9.9% 0.0% Change From 2008 1.3% 3.7% 1.5% 9.4% 21.8% 19.7% 241.2% Unemployment Rate U.S. Texas 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 through early 2013. The county’s current unemployment rate below 6 percent is near the Coastal Bend regional average. With a large military presence, Kleberg county’s labor market has been relatively stable historically. Employment in the county dipped between 2008 and 2009. Since 2010, businesses directly associated with oil and gas production have been a major drivers of local employment growth. The county’s unemployment has stayed near the Coastal Bend regional average. By the end of 2013, its unemployment rate had inched down to near 5 percent. Services 1.4% Management of Businesses 0.2% Administrative & Support 1.8% Educational Services (Private) 1.1% Annual Review of the South Texas Economy – 2014 Edition | 21