This article is part of an ongoing, county-by-county, industry overview of the Rural Capital Area. This article covers establishments, employment, and earnings in Fayette County.
Establishments
Like many areas, the largest industry in Fayette County by number of establishments is Restaurants and Other Eating Places (63 establishments) followed by Cattle Ranching and Farming (31 establishments).
Figure 1: Number of Establishments in Fayette County, 2021 to 2023
Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2024.Q2
Of the industries with the most establishments, Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers saw the most growth in Fayette County, growing 22% from 2021 to 2023. Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services also saw significant growth in the same period, increasing 15.9%. On the other hand, Building Equipment Contractors decreased in establishments from 2021 to 2023.
Figure 2: Percent Change in Top Establishments, Fayette County, 2021 to 2023
Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2024.Q2
Employment
Restaurants and Other Eating Places are also the largest industry group by number of employees in Fayette County. Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) are the second-largest industry by number of employees. All of the top three industries by employment in Fayette have seen increases in employment since 2021.
Figure 3: Number of Employees by Industry, Fayette County, 2021 to 2023
Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2024.Q2
By growth in employment, Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers saw some of the greatest changes from 2021 to 2023. Grocery and Convenience Retailers also saw substantial growth in employment from 2021 to 2023 while Department Stores have had a major decline in employment.
Figure 4: Growth in Employment, Fayette County, 2021 to 2023
Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2024.Q2
However, employment in Nondepository Credit Intermediation and Business Support Services saw significant growth in Fayette County. This is contrary to the contraction trends in those industries seen in the state and nation as a whole. General Freight Trucking has seen a significant increase in employment overall. However, its employment increase is substantially greater in Fayette County than its growth in the state and nation.
Figure 5: Decline in Employment, Fayette County, 2021 to 2023
Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2024.Q2
Earnings
Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers tops the list in Fayette County as the industry with the most earnings ($6.2 million). Restaurants and Other Eating Places appear in the second position ($4.8 million).
Figure 6: Earnings, Fayette County, 2021 to 2023
Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2024.Q2
One way to visualize industry earnings in Fayette County is imagining all earnings from all industries as a hundred dollars. Of that hundred dollars, the top three industries comprise $17. The top eight industries produce about $31 altogether. The remaining $69 is produced by all other industries, meaning that earnings in Fayette County are spread across a wide range of industries.
Figure 7: Earnings Visualized, Fayette County, 2023
Source: Data Tactical Group, DTG 2024.Q2