That conclusion is not immediately clear from looking at the data of the last 20 years.
Even as the population has increased from roughly 141,700 people in 2000 to nearly 160,000 now, the total workforce has fallen.
In 2000, there were nearly 101,900 people employed across all industries in the county, according to state data for the second quarter of that year.
The workforce has still not reached its turn-of-the-century peak. The closest it got was when the total number employed surpassed 89,000 in 2019 before falling to roughly 78,200 under the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic this year.
Taylor Dellinger, a data analyst at the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, said the drop is a testament to both the severity of the 2000s recessions in the area and the increasing age of the population.
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Fred Coleman Abernethy, 86, of Banner Elk, NC passed away on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, at his home.
He was born on March 4, 1934, in Catawba County, North Carolina, a son of the late Fred Coleman Abernethy, Sr. and the late Alta Rix Setzer Abernethy.
Fred was a NC State University graduate and began his career as an Registered Architect in 1965.
He belonged to and was active in many organizations; Boy Scouts of America as an Eagle Scout and assistant Scout Master, American Institute of Architects, Catawba County Chamber of Commerce as Past President, Cooperative Christian Ministry â 1st President, Corinth United Church of Christ â Past President of Consistory, First Savings and Loan Bank â Director; Southern National Bank â Director; BB&T â Director; North Carolina Historic Preservation Society; Rotary Club of Lake Hickory â Charter Member and Past President Paul Harris Award; Hospice of Catawba County â Board of Directors; Habitat for Humanity- B