| CLT REGION | Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,421,450 | 1,718,247 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 19% |
| Total Population | 2,890,176 | 3,023,285 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 8% | 2% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 7% | 2% |
The data that matters
Workforce analytics. Industry insights. MSA comparisons, data visualization, and so much more. When you’re ready to make a move, the CLT Alliance team will be with you every step of the way.
How the Charlotte Region Stacks Up
Compare key regional highlights to other U.S. metro areas.
Compare regions
| CLT REGION | Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | N/A |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $83,358 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.51 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $75,072 | $94,080 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.29 | 1.10 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $67,869 | $88,875 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.80 | 1.17 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $152,044 | $143,164 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.07 | 1.66 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $116,410 | $156,874 |
| CLT REGION | Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 115.0 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 27.3 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 40 |
| CLT REGION | Denver | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 15 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 218 |
| CLT REGION | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,421,450 | 2,498,272 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 28% |
| Total Population | 2,890,176 | 5,137,427 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 8% | 3% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 7% | 3% |
| CLT REGION | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | N/A |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $81,718 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.77 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $75,072 | $97,076 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.29 | 1.12 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $67,869 | $63,949 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ” | 1.80 | 1.52 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $152,044 | $104,628 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.07 | 0.85 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $116,410 | $126,885 |
| CLT REGION | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 108.6 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 26.5 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 67 |
| CLT REGION | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 18 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 146 |
| CLT REGION | Minneapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,421,450 | 2,035,187 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 6% |
| Total Population | 2,890,176 | 3,735,784 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 8% | 2% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 7% | 1% |
| CLT REGION | Minneapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 1.15 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $84,232 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 1.26 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $75,072 | $89,755 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.29 | 0.89 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $67,869 | $70,404 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.80 | 1.33 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $152,044 | $143,405 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.07 | 0.76 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $116,410 | $120,581 |
| CLT REGION | Minneapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 103.8 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 24.5 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 94 |
| CLT REGION | Minneapolis | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 18 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 163 |
| CLT REGION | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,421,450 | 1,147,728 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 11% |
| Total Population | 2,890,176 | 2,207,319 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 8% | 3% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 7% | 3% |
| CLT REGION | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 1.00 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $72,754 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.84 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $75,072 | $76,763 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.29 | 1.57 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $67,869 | $67,142 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ” | 1.80 | 1.17 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $152,044 | $109,271 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.07 | 0.77 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $116,410 | $106,407 |
| CLT REGION | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 95.4 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 23.9 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 61 |
| CLT REGION | Columbus | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 18 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 47 |
| CLT REGION | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,421,450 | 1,520,660 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 20% |
| Total Population | 2,890,176 | 3,427,603 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 8% | 6% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 7% | 6% |
| CLT REGION | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 1.04 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $83,881 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.62 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $75,072 | $78,997 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.29 | 0.73 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $67,869 | $59,080 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.80 | 1.64 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $152,044 | $119,184 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.07 | 0.89 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $116,410 | $106,349 |
| CLT REGION | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 103.6 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 28.1 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 35 |
| CLT REGION | Tampa | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 16 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 81 |
| CLT REGION | Jacksonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,421,450 | 815,624 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 24% |
| Total Population | 2,890,176 | 1,787,359 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 8% | 12% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 7% | 10% |
| CLT REGION | Jacksonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | N/A |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $86,993 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.56 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $75,072 | $84,516 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.29 | 1.64 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $67,869 | $66,125 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.80 | 1.68 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $152,044 | $106,811 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.07 | 0.85 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $116,410 | $130,194 |
| CLT REGION | Jacksonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 104.4 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 26.2 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 56 |
| CLT REGION | Jacksonville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 12 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 44 |
| CLT REGION | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,421,450 | 3,064,651 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 24% | 20% |
| Total Population | 2,890,176 | 6,437,061 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2015) | 8% | 5% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 7% | 5% |
| CLT REGION | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 0.83 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $94,472 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 1.00 | 0.76 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $75,072 | $79,338 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.29 | 1.51 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $67,869 | $74,758 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.80 | 1.15 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $152,044 | $129,310 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 1.07 | 1.62 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $116,410 | $148,450 |
| CLT REGION | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 98.4 | 96.5 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 26.7 | 31.2 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 30 |
| CLT REGION | Atlanta | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 15 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 237 |
| CLT REGION | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,565,059 | 1,220,974 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 25% | 31% |
| Total Population | 3,234,256 | 2,085,521 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2014) | 17% | 20% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 8.10% |
| CLT REGION | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 0.92 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $97,843 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 2.26 | 0.93 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $135,747 | $92,393 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.10 | 1.50 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $82,929 | $74,395 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.60 | 1.07 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $178,176 | $149,465 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 0.51 | 2.00 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $146,828 | $148,101 |
| CLT REGION | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 97.5 | 96.3 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 24.1 | 28.6 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 50 |
| CLT REGION | Nashville | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 13 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 102 |
| CLT REGION | Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,565,059 | 1,390,881 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 25% | 45% |
| Total Population | 3,234,256 | 2,492,116 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2014) | 17% | 32% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 16% |
| CLT REGION | Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 0.72 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $89,788 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 2.26 | 0.69 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $135,747 | $173,622 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.10 | 0.58 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $82,929 | $67,959 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.60 | 1.08 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $178,176 | $154,862 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 0.51 | 2.85 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $146,828 | $198,361 |
| CLT REGION | Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 97.5 | 97.8 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 24.1 | 27 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 9 |
| CLT REGION | Austin | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 13.49 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 97 |
| CLT REGION | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,565,059 | 4,434,679 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 25% | 29% |
| Total Population | 3,234,256 | 8,092,204 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2014) | 17% | 19% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 10% |
| CLT REGION | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ | 0.64 | 0.77 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $87,014 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 2.26 | 0.90 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $135,747 | $146,931 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.10 | 1.46 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $82,929 | $74,962 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ | 1.60 | 1.45 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $178,176 | $157,456 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 0.51 | 1.25 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $146,828 | $150,446 |
| CLT REGION | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 97.5 | 99.1 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 24.1 | 28.4 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 95 |
| CLT REGION | Dallas | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 13.36 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 257 |
| CLT REGION | Washington D.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Labor Force | 1,565,059 | 3,583,357 |
| Total Employment Growth Rate (Last 10 Years) | 25% | 8% |
| Total Population | 3,234,256 | 6,403,734 |
| Last 10 year Growth Rate (since 2014) | 17% | 6% |
| Projected Growth Rate (2024-2030) | 8% | 2% |
| CLT REGION | Washington D.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Life Sciences: Annual Employment LQ” | 0.64 | 2.69 |
| Life Sciences: Media Wage | $84,611 | $105,598 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Annual Employment LQ | 2.26 | 0.21 |
| Advanced Manufacturing: Media Wage | $135,747 | $256,391 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Annual Employment LQ | 1.10 | 0.52 |
| Logistics & Distribution: Media Wage | $82,929 | $74,962 |
| Financial Services: Annual Employment LQ” | 1.60 | 0.74 |
| Financial Services: Media Wage | $178,176 | $258,095 |
| IT/Tech: Annual Employment LQ | 0.51 | 3.36 |
| IT/Tech: Media Wage | $146,828 | $178,764 |
| CLT REGION | Washington D.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Of Living Index | 97.5 | 117.5 |
| Commute Time (Minutes) | 24.1 | 32.8 |
| U.S. News & World Report: Best Places to Live (2024-25) | 5 | 44 |
| CLT REGION | Washington D.C. | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of Energy (¢/kWh) | 12.99 | 16 |
| Direct Flights | 187 | 107 |
ECONOMIC DATA
From labor force data and unemployment rates to real estate and tourism growth, we’re tracking key metrics that can help business leaders, public organizations and nonprofits understand what’s driving the Charlotte area economy.
$265 Billion
gross regional product (outranking half of U.S. states)
2.9M
population of the region
1.6 M
total jobs
3.4%
unemployment rate
117
people move to the region daily
Demographic & Industry Data
A diverse, dynamic talent pool can push business to the next level.
117
people move to the Charlotte Region everyday
19%
growth in 20-34 year old population since 2015
43%
growth in foreign-born population
21%
production occupations more concentrated than national average
52%
growth in finance and insurance occupations since 2015
48%
growth in professional, scientific, and technical services since 2015
22%
labor force growth since
2015
Area Highlights
Activities, amenities, and a superior quality of life are the key to talent attraction and retention.
25 min
average commute times
226
days of sunshine annually
6
major league sports teams
25
minute average commute times
Download the quarterly Growth Report highlighting the region’s economic growth.
Economic Development News
Get a bird’s eye view of the announcements and advancements shaping regional growth.
Research Publications
Take a deep dive into the trends and insights that inform business decision making in Charlotte and beyond.
Charlotte Region 2025-2050 Growth Projections
Download
Foreign Direct Investment in the region
Download
Commercial Real Estate
Download
Moving the Needle | Life Sciences in the Charlotte Region
Download
Coining the Future
Download
Racial Equity
Download
Charlotte Region Population Study
Download
Exploring Economies Market Comparison
Download
