Cumberland County is a low-wealth community with one of the lowest wage bases in the state. Half of the local economy is dependent on the military, which provides a net income but cannot contribute to further economic development. The economy is based on low paying, service-sector jobs, which are here primarily because of the military’s presence. Retail and service industries are abundant but do not add wealth to the overall economy -- and there has been a decline in retail sales. More residents of the Cape Fear region are poor on average than people in North Carolina or the United States as a whole, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While North Carolina is about equal to the national average for the number of people living in poverty, about 13 percent, Cumberland County, at 16 percent, exceeds the state and national average.
The county has very limited economic support from manufacturing or industry. Wages earned come in the majority from service-related jobs, and many families must work two or three of these jobs to make ends meet. The presence of a large military complex ( Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base), although generally positive in many respects, also contributes to the high transience quality of the area. One in four residents has lived here for five or fewer years. Newcomers replace 4,700 households annually, and on average, 13 families move in while 11 families move out each day. (Census 2000)
Families are often at high risk of limited or no social, familial or other supports given the moves required by military assignments, workers seeking higher paying jobs, or residential changes caused by disruptions due to divorce or other family disturbance. Many families lack higher education, with only 40% of the county adult population reporting high school diplomas and some college exposure. Less than 17% indicate having acquired college degrees. The federal government (because of the military complex) is the area’s largest employer, followed by the local school system.
Web Resources
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- WebSARAS: State and Area Research and Analysis System, powerful web-based user friendly analytical tool, offering a single source for demographic and labor market information for the state and various geographic areas.
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- NC Economic Development Board: The North Carolina Economic Development Board serves as the state's top economic development policy advisory body and is responsible for recommending economic development policy to the Governor.
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