Close to $90 million of the Dubois County 2021 GDP was a result of the agribusiness sector of the county’s economy. The 52 business establishments in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting industry are a noticeable increase from the 37 companies that were classified as such in 2011.
In the First Quarter of 2022, 653 employees in the cluster averaged wages of $52,472, significantly higher than the $43,444 national average. The significant wage level is a reflection of the high concentration of management and supervisory workers who are employed in the county’s agribusiness offices and headquarters. 42% are identified as self-employed, reflective of the farmers and ranchers who remain independent owners and producers.
The cluster’s employment is 2.2% of total employment in the county, higher than the 1.3% level present in the national economy. However, the growth rate of employment in the county has lagged the national average growth rate over the past ten years, 2.2% to 3.1%.
The industry provides 3% of the total local GDP, more than the 0.8% share the agribusiness sector holds nationally. The location quotient of 1.67, indicating more concentration of the industry that the national economy provides, is another indication that the agribusiness sector is a strong foundation of the Dubois County economy.