An important conclusion may be drawn from the data when job growth and real income are considered. Only three of the 92 Indiana counties grew jobs at a higher rate and exceeded our growth in real earnings per job. Clearly, Marshall County was a leader in creating Quality Jobs . When government earnings are excluded, earnings from manufacturing concerns exceeds all other earnings segments. Generally, those counties with a high percentage of manufacturing employment enjoy higher per capita income.
Manufacturing typically pays higher wages than services, wholesale, retail etc.
Kosciusko County ranks 14th in Indiana in this income measure. Elkhart County is a close second. Not surprisingly, both counties have an extremely high percent of earnings from manufacturing. In direct contrast, the two poorest counties have very low manufacturing earnings. Chart 3 also indicates a clear relationship between manufacturing earnings and the number of people living in poverty in each featured county.