Employment Growth in Large, Dense Cities Paces Recovery

A study from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis finds evidence that large, dense metropolitan areas have experienced the most complete recovery following the Great Recession.

1 minute read

October 22, 2014, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Richard Florida shares news of a study produced by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis finding that "[larger], denser metros have performed considerably better" in the new geography of the country's economy.

"The study…used county-level jobs data to compare employment growth in large metros (with over one million people), medium-sized metros (with populations of 250,000 to 1 million), small metros (those with less than 250,000 people), and non-metro areas from 2007 through 2013."

A series of graphs illustrate the trends in each of the four types of metropolitan areas as defined by the study. After the onset of the recession, the line representing large metros "rebounds the most sharply, rising steadily and ultimately eclipsing the lines for the other three types of metros in early 2012."

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