Tampa Bay's Economic Growth: A Closer Look
Despite the pandemic's economic impact, Tampa Bay's GDP data revealed remarkable growth in the area, providing insights into the economic recovery from Covid-19. According to recent reports, Hillsborough County's GDP increased by 8%, from $84 million in 2020 to $91 million in 2021, which is the largest growth among the counties in the Tampa Bay area.
Here's how the top Tampa Bay counties break down for real GDP growth in the state by percentage growth from 2020-21:
- Miami-Dade: $151.9 million
- Broward: $104.92 million
- Orange: $94.83 million
- Hillsborough: $91.39 million
- Palm Beach: $84.47 million
Nationwide, more than 77% of counties posted GDP growth between 2020 and 2021, contributing to significant hiring, labor shortages, pay growth, and inflation. The average county posted a 3.3% increase. The national GDP increased by 5.9% between 2020 and 2021, totaling $19.4 trillion after a 2.8% decrease in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The tech sector's explosive growth during the pandemic recovery fueled strong years for counties in Silicon Valley, while several fast-growing Sun Belt counties also ranked high in the rankings. But no county could outpace Elkhart County, Indiana, known as the "RV Capital of the World," which saw a 25% increase in GDP between 2020 and 2021.
The Sun Belt was well-represented in the top GDP growth rankings, with 18 of the top 25 counties for economic growth between 2020 and 2021 among counties with at least $10 billion in 2020 GDP. The region also saw significant job growth and migration during Covid-19.
Overall, the pandemic recovery was kind to the nation's largest county economies, except for a few exceptions. Of the 310 counties to surpass the $10 billion threshold, the average growth was 5.5%, and only nine counties saw their GDP decline between 2020 and 2021, with six of them located in Texas. Among counties with at least $100 billion in GDP, Harris County, Texas, recorded the weakest growth at 1.5%.
Looking at statewide GDP growth, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Nevada led the way, with increases of 9.3%, 9%, and 8.9%, respectively. Meanwhile, North Dakota, Alaska, and Wyoming were at the bottom of the rankings, with decreases of 4.8%, 5.1%, and 5.7%, respectively.
In conclusion, Tampa Bay's substantial economic growth is a positive indicator of the area's resilience and a sign of hope for the future. It's encouraging to see the majority of the counties nationwide posting GDP growth despite the challenges of the pandemic. As the world continues to recover, we hope to see this trend continue and even strengthen over time.