The Coastal Bend economy
UHV serves a region referred to as the Coastal Bend in Texas.6 Since the university was first established, it has been serving the Coastal Bend by enhancing the workforce, providing local residents with easy access to higher education opportunities, and preparing students for highly-skilled, technical professions. Table 1.3 summarizes the breakdown of the regional economy by major industrial sector ordered by total income, with details on labor and non-labor income. Labor income refers to wages, salaries, and proprietors’ income. Non-labor income refers to profits, rents, and other forms of investment income. Together, labor and non-labor income comprise the region’s total income, which can also be considered as the region’s gross regional product (GRP).
As shown in Table 1.3, the total income, or GRP, of the Coastal Bend is approximately $605.8 billion, equal to the sum of labor income ($340.7 billion) and non-labor income ($265.1 billion). In Chapter 2, we use the total added income as the measure of the relative impacts of the university on the regional economy.
6 The following counties comprise the Coastal Bend: Bexar, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Colorado, Dewitt, Fort Bend, Goliad, Gonzales, Harris, Jackson, Karnes, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio, Victoria, Wharton, and Wilson.
TABLE 1.3: INCOME BY MAJOR INDUSTRY SECTOR IN THE COASTAL BEND, 2018*
| Industry sector | Labor income (millions) | Non-labor income(millions) | Total income (millions)** | % of total income | Sales (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27,789 | $48,389 | $76,178 | 13% | $213,569 |
| Wholesale Trade | $19,816 | $47,067 | $66,882 | 11% | $96,181 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $9,014 | $39,723 | $48,737 | 8% | $70,847 |
| Mining, Quarrying, & Oil and Gas Extraction | $21,709 | $26,280 | $47,989 | 8% | $86,682 |
| Finance & Insurance | $28,466 | $16,184 | $44,650 | 7% | $90,420 |
| Professional & Technical Services | $35,717 | $6,830 | $42,547 | 7% | $65,428 |
| Government, Non-Education | $24,460 | $9,375 | $33,835 | 6% | $153,806 |
| Health Care & Social Assistance | $29,770 | $3,613 | $33,383 | 6% | $54,737 |
| Transportation & Warehousing | $16,495 | $16,848 | $33,343 | 6% | $54,437 |
| Construction | $25,743 | $5,607 | $31,349 | 5% | $60,601 |
| Retail Trade | $16,185 | $7,924 | $24,108 | 4% | $39,428 |
| Administrative & Waste Services | $17,399 | $3,629 | $21,028 | 3% | $34,023 |
| Real Estate & Rental & Leasing | $10,367 | $8,733 | $19,100 | 3% | $42,162 |
| Government, Education | $18,621 | $0 | $18,621 | 3% | $21,120 |
| Information | $5,130 | $9,134 | $14,264 | 2% | $23,999 |
| Accommodation & Food Services | $9,647 | $4,401 | $14,048 | 2% | $26,343 |
| Management of Companies & Enterprises | $11,930 | $855 | $12,785 | 2% | $18,983 |
| Utilities | $3,550 | $8,362 | $11,911 | 2% | $18,349 |
| Educational Services | $5,000 | $852 | $5,852 | 1% | $8,282 |
| Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation | $2,782 | $798 | $3,580 | 1% | $5,766 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting | $1,105 | $479 | $1,583 | <1% | $4,080 |
| Total | $340,693 | $265,082 | $605,775 | 100% | $1,189,241 |
* Data reflect the most recent year for which data are available. Emsi data are updated quarterly.
** Numbers may not add due to rounding. Source: Emsi industry data.
Figure 1.5 provides the breakdown of jobs by industry in the Coastal Bend. The Health Care & Social Assistance sector is the largest employer, supporting 504,778 jobs or 10.0% of total employment in the region. The second largest employer is the Retail Trade sector, supporting 446,011 jobs or 8.8% of the region’s total employment. Altogether, the region supports 5.1 million jobs.7
7 Job numbers reflect Emsi’s complete employment data, which includes the following four job classes: 1) employees who are counted in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), 2) employees who are not covered by the federal or state unemployment insurance (UI) system and are thus excluded from QCEW, 3) self-employed workers, and 4) extended proprietors.
FIGURE 1.5: JOBS BY MAJOR INDUSTRY SECTOR IN THE COASTAL BEND, 2018*
* Data reflect the most recent year for which data are available. Emsi data are updated quarterly. Source: Emsi employment data.
Table 1.4 and Figure 1.6 present the mean earnings by education level in the Coastal Bend and the state of Texas at the midpoint of the average-aged worker’s career. These numbers are derived from Emsi’s complete employment data on average earnings per worker in the region and the state.8 The numbers are then weighted by the university’s demographic profile, and state earnings are weighted by students’ settlement patterns. As shown, students have the potential to earn more as they achieve higher levels of education compared to maintaining a high school diploma. Students who earn a bachelor’s degree from UHV can expect approximate wages of $64,600 per year within the Coastal Bend, approximately $29,500 more than someone with a high school diploma.
8 Wage rates in the Emsi MR-SAM model combine state and federal sources to provide earnings that reflect complete employment in the state, including proprietors, self-employed workers, and others not typically included in regional or state data, as well as benefits and all forms of employer contributions. As such, Emsi industry earnings-per-worker numbers are generally higher than those reported by other sources.
TABLE 1.4: AVERAGE EARNINGS BY EDUCATION LEVEL AT A UHV STUDENT’S CAREER MIDPOINT
| Education level | Labor income (millions) | Non-labor income(millions) | Total income (millions)** | % of total income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | $26,700 | n/a | $26,200 | n/a |
| High school or equivalent | $35,100 | $8,400 | $34,300 | $8,100 |
| Associate degree | $46,400 | $5,900 | $45,400 | $5,700 |
| Bachelor’s degree | $64,600 | $18,200 | $63,300 | $17,900 |
| Master’s degree | $81,900 | $17,300 | $80,200 | $16,900 |
FIGURE 1.6: AVERAGE EARNINGS BY EDUCATION LEVEL AT A UHV STUDENT’S CAREER MIDPOINT, 2018
Due to the uncertainty in regional data forecasting, for the purpose of this analysis, the current regional earnings, jobs, and industry data will be used for the FY 2028-29 analysis.