OUR CHANGING ECONOMY
Our Economy is Experiencing Stress, but Positive Signs Exist
With job losses, some industries are growing. While the county lost 3,000 jobs between 2007 and 2008, employment grew in two clusters, Trade & Logistics and Health & Social Services. Solano County has fared better than the state in terms of overall employment growth since 2000 and job losses since 2007; however, unemployment of residents tracks closely with the state rates.
New opportunities are emerging. Solano County is growing jobs in the area of Clean Energy & Transportation at a faster rate than the carbon-based energy industry, or even the overall economy.
Solano’s business climate is vital. Even during the downturn, from 2007 to 2008, 2,536 establishments either opened or moved into Solano County, while 1,246 establishments either closed or moved out of the county.
Our Incomes have grown. Prosperity has been growing in Solano County, and incomes are holding up better than statewide. Between 2000 and 2008, median household income increased 17 percent more than California and 35 percent more than nationally. Just since 2007, household earnings grew 2 percent while statewide, median household income dropped 2 percent.