|
February 2019 Summary of Select Trends
Click on the source in (parenthesis) to visit the full article EMPLOYMENT Many major companies are leaving the US and taking operations overseas to cut overhead costs (including tariffs). Companies leaving the US in the last few months include General Motors, PG&E, and Harley-Davidson. And as this trend continues at full-steam into 2019, not all jobs lost wear a blue collar. IBM and Hewlett-Packard are two examples of US companies outsourcing skilled labor jobs in recent months. (CheatSheet) TECHNOLOGY Companies born from tech solutions for everyday problems, like Uber and Airbnb, have had their share of legal battles as the markets and government entities adjust to the disruption. Cities across the US are taking Airbnb and similar companies to court demanding enhanced regulation to curb resulting trends like loss of affordable housing due to rising rental rates and preserve retail real estate in prime tourist spots. Some cities on the list include Los Angeles, New Orleans, and New York City. (Governing) ENVIRONMENT Last month we followed stories where local recycling programs are falling behind on their promises, losing money, or shutting down completely in the US. One state bucks the trend and manages to innovate despite major disruptions and uncertainty in the market. Oregon Bottle Deposit System recycled 2 billion bottles in 2018 - a 56 percent jump and all-time high for the recycling program. (NPR) ECONOMY A number of large banks expect their existing loan portfolios to deteriorate. Categories most affected include business loans and credit cards, as well as jumbo mortgages that are most often used for investment properties. As large banks swallow-up community banks that have traditionally served the local, small business, they are finding more and more business loan applicants do not meet their lending requirements. As small businesses are hard-pressed to find funding and community banks close or consolidate, locales should be concerned for the related economic impacts. (MarketWatch) INFRASTRUCTURE Nearly half of US cities have fewer than 1,000 residents - and with only four percent considered large cities, the trends in data analytics, technology advancements, and opportunities for innovations seem beyond far-fetched. How can the majority of US cities keep up? Luckily, many tech firms that work with local governments consider smaller government agencies easier to work with and prime candidates to try new things, citing less red tape and a knack for creativity that comes with a smaller budget. For example, one school district in a small city, Northfield, MN, recently won an innovation award for implementing a Benefit Advisory Board to drive efficiency and cost-savings in the school district’s health plan program. (GovTech) DEMOGRAPHICS Rural America is more nuanced than we have come to generalize in recent years. Today, data visualizes three types of rural America, highlighting the importance of amenities, regions in transition, and those that are truly depressed. In all three types, a few beliefs among the population ring true and are significantly different than more urban locales, including beliefs in global warming and the effectiveness of local government. (CityLab) TECHNOLOGY In December 2017, net neutrality was struck down by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Seemingly minutes later, states started taking action in court. Bills in 33 states were introduced in 2018. Additionally, 23 states filed a challenge of the repeal citing the ruling “arbitrary and capricious”. (MultiState) |
Further reading
      |
For more information on how Cobalt can help you adapt and thrive in the changing demographic, economic and social environment, visit the Cobalt website or reach out to us by email. Let us know if you need anything at all for benchmarking or research data; we are here for you.
Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations measure, benchmark, and affordably engage communities through high-quality metrics, surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].
Cobalt Community Research is a national 501c3 nonprofit, non-partisan coalition that helps local governments, schools and membership organizations measure, benchmark, and affordably engage communities through high-quality metrics, surveys, dynamic population segmentation, focus groups and work groups. Cobalt combines big data with local insights to help organizations thrive as changes emerge in the economic, demographic and social landscape. Explore how we can help by calling 877.888.0209, or by emailing [email protected].