arc's state of the region report

Atlanta Regional Commission

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Despite the Great Recession, metro Atlanta has still added the 7th most new residents since 2010, up more than 236,000 new residents between 2010-2013.

Demographics: Metro Atlanta Still Among Fastest Growing Metros

Population Change, 2010-2013

Source: U.S. Census

How would you rate the Atlanta area as a place to live? (2014)

Excellent, 13%

Good, 50%

Fair, 30%

Poor, 6% DK, 2%

Excellent Good Fair Poor DK

Almost two-thirds of the respondents to the 2014 Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey think that metro Atlanta is an “excellent” or “good” place to live. This rate declined slightly- going from 68% of respondents choosing “excellent” or “good” in 2013 down to 63% this year, something that bears watching in subsequent years

Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey: Residents happy living in metro Atlanta

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Excellent Good Fair Poor DK

2013

2014

How would you rate the Atlanta area as a place to live? (2014 Compared to 2013)

Source: 2014 Metro Atlanta Speaks survey

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Redevelop older areas

Continue to build new suburbs

Other/ DK

2013

2014

Which would be the best way to accommodate growth during the next 20 years?

As the region continues to grow, there is a strong consensus as to how the region should accommodate this growth. Two out of every three respondents believe redevelopment of old areas is the best way to accommodate new growth as opposed to building new suburbs. Interestingly, though, in last year’s survey, a higher percentage of respondents chose the redevelopment option, while a lower percentage chose the “build new suburbs” options. This warrants more attention moving forward as this could be a response to better perceptions of the economy (meaning that people are more optimistic), thus the option to “build new” may be more possible and palatable.

Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey: Accommodate new growth through redevelopment

Source: 2014 and 2013 Metro Atlanta Speaks surveys

Almost 30 percent of metro Atlanta’s population is under the age of 20, making it one of the youngest metros in the southeast and nation.

Demographics: Metro Atlanta still a relatively young place

% of Population Under Age 20, 2013

Source: U.S. Census (2013 American Community Survey)

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Metro Atlanta’s post-secondary schools give the region an advantage

Three out of every four respondents believe Atlanta’s many world-class institutions of higher learning gave the area a competitive advantage.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Strongly agree Somewhat agree Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree DK

Metro Atlanta’s post-secondary institutions give the region a competitive advantage…. Agree?


Percent of Adult Population (25+) With At Least A Bachelor’s Degree, 2013

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10

20

30

40

50

60

Metro Atlanta ranks in the top 10 for the most educated places among the largest metros, with 35 percent of its adult population having earned at least a Bachelor’s degree. This, in addition to having a relatively young population, is a good position to be in as metro Atlanta continues to create more “new economy” jobs.

Education: Metro Atlanta an educated place

Source: U.S. Census (2013 American Community Survey)

Education: Metro Atlanta on wrong side of education gap

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The education gap is a measure that compares the amount of education the average job opening requires to the education attained by the average worker. Despite having a highly educated population in Atlanta, the average job opening demands an educational level that is 6.4% larger than the education attained by the average worker.

Source: Brookings Institution

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents aware of the region’s public education shortcomings

Source: 2014 Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey

Excellent, 6%

Good, 31%

Fair, 36%

Poor, 22%

DK, 4%

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

DK

Part of the education gap illustrated on the previous slide can be traced back to K-12 public education in the region. Only about 71 percent of students graduate from high school in the Atlanta region. Therefore, only 37 percent of respondents rate Atlanta’s public education as “excellent” or “good”. A lot of these perceptions change depending on where one lives. Also, LOCAL school districts received higher marks.

How would you rate public education in the Atlanta area AS A WHOLE? (2014)

Atlanta is a place where you could easily live throughout your senior years... Agree?

Strongly agree, 26%

Somewhat agree, 38%

Somewhat disagree, 19%

Strongly disagree, 15%

DK, 2%

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

DK

At the other end of the age spectrum, metro Atlanta’s aging population is growing rapidly because Baby Boomers are retiring in great numbers. Some 65 percent of survey respondents either “strongly agreed” or “somewhat agreed” that Atlanta is a place where they could easily live throughout their senior years.

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents feel comfortable “aging in place” in metro Atlanta


Which is the Greatest Challenge to Growing Old in Metro Atlanta?

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Other

DK

Having to move

Financial resources

Locating other services

Housing

Transportation

Respondents indicated that Transportation and Housing are the biggest problems with growing old in Atlanta. This speaks directly to the challenges the region faces in preparing for a significantly older population in the future and our ability and need to fund transportation solutions going forward.

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Like the rest of us, older adults worry about transportation


Job losses in Atlanta were steeper than in most other large metro areas during the Great Recession, and the impact lingered longer. However, while metro Atlanta still has fewer jobs today than pre-recession, the job market is recovering briskly. Over the past year, metro Atlanta has added 54,000 jobs, the 7th largest growth in the nation.

Economy: Metro Atlanta among leaders in job gains

Job Change, 2013-2014 (thru August)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

How would you rate job opportunities in the Metro Atlanta area?

7%

29%

36%

20%

8%

7%

36%

36%

17%

4%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

DK

2013 2014

Metro Atlanta residents are seeing improvements to the local economy. 43% of respondents rated job opportunities as “excellent” or “good” this year- seven percentage points higher than last year’s survey response. This is another sign that perceptions are aligning with reality.

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents more optimistic about job opportunities


Metro Atlanta Job Postings, 2007-2013

209,970 231,716

335,123 362,035

384,410

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

2007 2010 2011 2012 2013

Postings Growth between 2007 and 2013

83.1%

39.8%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

ATL

Nation

Another way to look at economic recovery is to consider job openings. There has been an 83 percent growth rate in total job postings between 2007 and 2013 in Atlanta. This is more than double the national rate of growth.

Economy: Job postings in metro Atlanta outstripping those nationwide

Source: Labor Insight/Jobs (Burning Glass)

Compared to other metropolitan areas, how would you rate the economy of Metro Atlanta?

Much better,

11%

Slightly better, 28%

About the same, 38%

Slightly worse, 15%

Much worse, 5% DK, 4%

Much better

Slightly better

About thesameSlightly worse

Much worse

DK

Respondents are not fully convinced Atlanta’s economy has recovered, however. Only 39 percent of survey respondents rated it as “much better” or “slightly better” than other metro areas. This is essentially unchanged from last year’s survey results on this question.

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents still skeptical about metro Atlanta’s economy


Change in Gross Domestic Product ($000,000), 2010-2013 (in 2009 chained dollars)

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10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

Metro Atlanta has the 10th largest economy in the nation in terms of GDP, which is the value of all things produced in the area. But since 2010, it ranks 17th out of 25 in GDP change between 2010 and 2013.

Economy: Metro Atlanta’s economy still has challenges

Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

First-Line Supervisors of Office/Admin WorkersSoftware Quality Assurance Engineers and Testers

Combined Food Prep/Serving Workers, Including Fast FoodAccountants

Management AnalystsDatabase Administrators

First-Line Supervisors of Food Prep/Serving WorkersMaintenance and Repair Workers, General

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandGeneral and Operations Managers

Secretaries and Admins, not Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHuman Resources Specialists

Computer User Support SpecialistsMedical and Health Services Managers

Marketing ManagersManagers, All Other

Sales ManagersCustomer Service Representatives

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversComputer Systems Analysts

First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersSales Representatives, Wholesale/Manu, not Tech/Scientific Products

Registered NursesRetail Salespersons

Software Developers, Applications

Metro Atlanta Job Postings, Last Six Months

Economy: Metro Atlanta’s economy relies on innovation

Metro Atlanta’s economy has a diverse job base, and because it is not overly reliant one sector, it can weather shocks to a particular segment of the economy better than other metro areas. New job sectors are also encouraging. “Old Economy” jobs, like retail and truck drivers, are still in demand. The most sought after occupation over the last six months, however, is software developers.

Source: Labor Insight/ Jobs (Burning Glass)

Software Developer postings per capita, last six months

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Riverside

Portland

San Antonio

Miami

Houston

Phoenix

Minneapolis

Los Angeles

Tampa

Pittsburgh

Philadelphia

St. Louis, MO

New York

Charlotte

San Diego

Detroit

Dallas

Baltimore

Chicago

Atlanta

Denver

Boston

Washington

San Francisco

Seattle

Over the past 6 months, more than 11,000 software developer positions have been posted in Metro Atlanta. Compared to the 25 most populous metros in the nation, metro Atlanta ranks 6th in these postings on a per capita basis.

Innovation: “New Economy” jobs in high demand

Source: Labor Insights (Burning Glass)

Digital Media and Gaming Job postings per capita, last six months

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

PortlandRiverside

San AntonioHouston

MiamiPittsburgh

MinneapolisTampa

PhoenixPhiladelphia

St. Louis, MODetroit

Los AngelesCharlotteBaltimoreSan Diego

AtlantaDallas

New YorkChicagoDenverBostonSeattle

WashingtonSan Francisco

Metro Atlanta has emerged as a key hub for Digital Media and Gaming jobs, as there have been almost 10,000 job openings over the past six months. Metro Atlanta ranks 9th out of 25 in job postings per capita.

Innovation: Metro Atlanta a hub for digital media

Source: Labor Insight/Jobs (Burning Glass)

Percent Change in Patents, 2000-2011

-50.0%

0.0%

50.0%

100.0%

150.0%

200.0%

250.0%

Metro Atlanta ranks 5th in percent growth in the number of patents issued between 2000 and 2011.

Innovation: Metro Atlanta catching up fast in patents

Source: U.S. Trade and Patent Office

Compared to other areas, how would you rate the metro Atlanta as a place to start business?

Much better, 17%

Slightly better, 27% About the same,

35%

Slightly worse, 10%

Much worse, 5% DK, 7%

Much better

Slightly better

About the same

Slightly worse

Much worse

DK

Georgia is one of the most business-friendly states in the nation, and 44% of respondents said metro Atlanta was a “much better” or “slightly better” place than other areas to start a business. Granted, most people don’t start their own business, but the perception is that starting a business is relatively easy in metro Atlanta. This perception indicates a good environment for additional start-ups.

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents aware of metro Atlanta’s business-friendly reputation


Which is the biggest problem facing residents in the Metro Atlanta area?

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Transportation

Economy

Crime

Public Education

Human Services

Taxes

Public Health

Other

Race Relations

DK

2013

2014

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Traffic #1 concern

To be a world-class place today, cities must have world-class infrastructure. However, keeping up with current growth patterns and expanding the infrastructure we have is challenging. Simply put, resources are not keeping up with need, and this is clear to metro Atlanta residents. “Traffic” was rated as the top concern for 2014 survey respondents, supplanting “Economy” as the issue that concerns residents most. And this makes sense – as the economy improves, it becomes less of a concern, but traffic is a constant.


Congestion Cost per Auto Commuter, 2011

$0

$200

$400

$600

$800

$1,000

$1,200

$1,400

$1,600

Time wasted in traffic is expensive, and in 2011, the average metro Atlanta commuter spent more than $1,100 sitting in traffic, ranking as the 7th highest in the nation.

Infrastructure: There is a reason why “Transportation” is the top concern in 2014…

Source: Texas Transportation Institute

What would be the best long-term solution to the traffic problems in Metro Atlanta?

Expand public transit, 42%

Improve roads/ highways, 28%

Develop communities live close to work, 21%

Do nothing, 5% DK, 4%

Expand public transit

Improve roads/highways

Develop communitieslive close to work

Do nothing

DK

To fix traffic and congestion issues in Metro Atlanta, 42 percent of respondents favored the expansion of public transit, a higher percentage of respondents than those who chose improvement of roads/highways (28 percent).

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents think expansion of public transit is best solution


How important for Metro Atlanta’s future is an improved public transit system, including buses and trains?

Very important 70%

Somewhat important

22%

Not important at all 7%

DK 1%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

A vast majority of respondents, some 70 percent, indicated that an improved public transit system is “very important” for the future of metro Atlanta.

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents really do think a public transit system is important


Per Capita Water Use (Gallons Per Day)

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2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Of course, there is more to infrastructure than just roads. It really wouldn’t matter how good our transportation infrastructure was if we didn’t have a safe and secure water supply. Atlanta has a limited water supply and must rely on water conservation strategies. Fortunately, since 2000, per capita water usage has dropped more than 20 percent.

Infrastructure: Metro Atlanta takes water conservation seriously

Source: Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District

How important is it for people to take steps to conserve water in their homes?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Very important Somewhat important Not important at all DK

Actions speak louder words, but metro Atlanta residents back what they say unequivocally. Seven out of 10 respondents agree that water conservation in their homes is “very important” and another 27 percent said it is “somewhat important”. Almost no one answered “not important at all.”

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents really do think water conservation is important

Source: Metro Atlanta Speaks survey

Creative Establishments per 1,000 population, 2011

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

There are almost 500 non-profit organizations involved with arts and culture in the Atlanta region, and some 92,000 people are employed in creative industry sectors (for-profit). Overall, metro Atlanta ranks 8th out of the top 25 peer metros in the number of creative establishments per capita.

Quality of Life: Arts & Culture thriving in metro Atlanta

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (accessed through Benchmarking Central Ohio)

How satisfied are you with the availability of arts and culture? How satisfied are you with the availability of parks and greenspace?

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Very satisfied

Satisfied

Unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

DK

Arts & Culture

Parks & Greenspace

Almost eight in 10 respondents indicated they were “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with arts and culture and more than 80 percent “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the availability of parks and greenspace

in metro Atlanta..

Metro Atlanta Speaks: Residents enjoy metro Atlanta’s amenities


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