County Economies Grew by 5.9 Percent Between 2020 and 2021

Percent change in county GDP between 2020 and 2021.

Note: Real GDP in 2012 chained dollars.
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis; Regional Accounts - Gross Domestic Product by County, 2022.

Output and Productivity Amid a Global Pandemic

2021 County GDP Analysis

Output and Productivity Amid a Global Pandemic, published in March 2023, analyzes the impact of the pandemic on county economies, drawing on new county-level gross domestic product (GDP) data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).

Download Full Report

Archive of County Economy Publications

County Economic Output Trends, 2020

County Economic Output Trends analyzes 2018 county-level gross domestic product (GDP) data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), finding a diverse national economy on the rise, but evidence that not all local economies are experiencing the same expansion.

Download Full Report

Local Economies in the Global Market, 2020

Local Economies in the Global Market analyzes county engagement with the world economy through NACo’s new Global Market Engagement (GME) Index, emphasizing the key role counties play in encouraging exports and exploring foreign investment.

Download Full Report

Download Methodology

Warren, Ohio
Advocacy

Senators introduce bipartisan legislation to level playing field for rural communities

Senators introduced the Rural Partnership and Prosperity Act, bipartisan legislation intended to advance economic development in rural counties and overcome barriers to obtaining federal funding and resources. 

Allan Golston addresses the General Session audience during the 2023 NACo Annual Conference. Photo by Denny Henry
County News

Economic mobility is ‘more than just a paycheck,’ Allan Golston says

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s U.S. Program strategy aims to ease access to safety net benefits, help local leaders promote economic mobility and join partners to unify the economic mobility field.

Construction workers
Advocacy

DOL issues final rule on updating the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts Regulations

On August 8, the U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule to raise the prevailing wage standard for approximately 1.2 million construction workers under the Davis-Bacon and Davis-Bacon Related Acts.