26 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week
The stories Dane thinks you need to see. December 12, 2024 edition.
Welcome to this week's issue of What Economic Developers Need to Know This Week, where we explore the evolving dynamics of our economy.
This week we have 26 tools, stories, graphics, charts, and videos that I think you'll find informative, useful, inspiring, and perhaps even humorous. Some are economic development related directly, and some only indirectly. 🤔
If you're wondering what to do with the info in this newsletter, send something to your board members. It will make you look good!
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1) Economic Development and Developers in the News # 175 - Econ dev news from 48 economic development executives and organizations in 25 states.
2) Podcast 153: Sandy Dubay Created Her Own Path in Economic Development - When two people who like talking, talk to each other.
3) 21 New Econ Dev Jobs This Week - In 12 states, from $43 - $161,000
4) 37 Things Economic Developers Need to Know This Week - The stories Dane thinks you need to see. December 5, 2024 edition.
5) Top ten emptiest government office buildings:
6) Canadians are moving to smaller cities and rural areas.
7) America's manufacturing map is screaming "creative destruction in action!" What we're seeing isn't manufacturing's death - it's its metamorphosis.
Industrial policy fans take note - you can't just throw money at traditional manufacturing hubs and expect magic. The map shows capital and labor are already self-organizing into new patterns.
8) Remember all that "American decline" talk? This county-level GDP growth map (2022-23) tells a different story. The heartland's BOOMING - look at those dark blue patches! Meanwhile, parts of the West Coast showing some wobbles. Classic American dynamism = some places surge while others reset.
9) Sometimes the best growth stories aren't about disruption - they're about consistent execution and giving people what they want (in this case, literal comfort food).
10) The college premium isn't what it used to be, folks. Fresh grads hitting 5.3% unemployment (vs 2.5% for all college grads) isn't just a blip - it's breaking a multi-decade pattern. Young talent usually weathers downturns better than the broader workforce. Not anymore. The "just get a degree" story needs an update.
One possible reason behind the downturn is that employers are simply cooling on college degrees. A report from job site Indeed found that only 17.6% of job postings in October demanded at least a bachelor's degree, down from about 20% pre-pandemic.
