From productivity to quality of life to workforce preparedness, the Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County’s new Economic Dashboard provides a simple and easy-to-navigate platform for finding the data you need. Recently launched on May 18, the Dashboard shows the most recent trends in a variety of economic categories, as well as rates from past quarters for ease of comparison.
Good news: you don’t have to be a data genius to figure it out. The user-friendly platform is laid out simply and visually. And if you come across a number or percentage you don’t understand, clicking on that number opens a pop-up box with an explanation.
Perhaps some examples will clear things up. With a little imagination, you can discover how the Dashboard comes to the rescue in a wide variety of situations. To see how it works, try putting yourself in the following shoes:
Construction boots. Light brown leather. Formed comfortably to your feet and scuffed at the toe.
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Who you are: A contractor and owner of your small construction business
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What you’re looking for: To expand your business into San Luis Obispo County. You want to know the size of the existing building and construction industry there.
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Dashboard says: In Q2 of 2016, there were 5,116 employees in the field of Building, Design & Construction, a 0.5% decrease over the past two years. At the beginning of 2016, 247 individual housing units received a building permit.
Tan, well-worn flip flops. You hope they match. You didn’t stop to look when you were running out the door.
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Who you are: A parent of three children
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What you’re looking for: To move your family out of the over-crowded city and into a smaller California town where you can live comfortably but still afford a home. You want to know how the housing market in San Luis Obispo compares to the rest of the state, as well as the potential quality of education for your children.
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Dashboard says: The average home price in SLO is 3.2% higher than the California average. In 2015, K-12 proficiency with English was 49% and math was 37%, ranking 12th and 13th respectively out of 58 counties in the state. SLO ranks 12th out of 58 counties for college preparedness with both math and English.
Lace-up gray ankle boots with your black jeans tucked in. 1 1/2 inch heels. Enough to boost your confidence, but not so flashy that you don’t look serious.
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Who you are: A recent college graduate
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What you’re looking for: A job that will prove to your parents that you chose the right major. You want to know what the San Luis Obispo County workforce is like, what kind of salaries employees are making, and the availability of jobs in the area.
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Dashboard says: In 2014, 33.8% of adults in SLO County had college degrees or higher, a 7.3% increase from the previous year. The average annual wage was $39,800 in Q3 of 2015. The number of private sector jobs in that same quarter was 95,200, which is a 3.8% increase from the year before.