Demographers at the Maxwell School in collaboration with BBI researchers will identify and analyze unique characteristics of the SE region from two perspectives: people with disabilities and industry growth areas.

A. To understand status of people with disabilities in the eight states (GA, AL, MS, FL, KY, TN, NC, SC), the following questions will be addressed for each state and the region:

1.      What percent of total populations is defined as disabled with further breakdown by age, gender, race, and other characteristics including type of disability?

2.      What are the employment rates for working age adults?

3.      What is the economic status for adults (18-65) with disabilities (percentage living at or below poverty)?

4.      What are identified migration patterns (percent of Hispanic or Latino populations or other minority groups in the populations as a whole)?

5.      What percent of total population is in urban v. rural areas and are there differences for working age disability population?

6.      What is anticipated growth rate among people with disability in the eight states?

B. To understand issues of job creation and economic development, the following questions will be addressed:

1.      By state, what are the largest industries and/or business sectors defined by umber of jobs and then by revenues?

2.      For the 10 largest cities in the eight states, who are the top five employers?

3.      By state and the 10 largest cities, what business sectors are expected in the next five and ten years to be the growth industries in terms of job creation?

C. In addition, the researchers will identify relevant characteristics of the eight states that are unique? For example: level of poverty or aging population as compared to the rest of the country.

Wilmoth, J. & London, A.S. (2006, May 15). Demographic, Disability, and Industry Characteristics in the Southeast DBTAC Region (BBI White Paper Series).

Key Project Personnel

Janet Wilmoth, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology, and Senior Research Associate in the Center for Policy Research

http://www-cpr.maxwell.syr.edu/faculty/wilmoth/

Andrew S. London, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology, and Senior Research Associate in the Center for Policy Research

http://www-cpr.maxwell.syr.edu/faculty/london/

Principal Investigator

Peter Blanck, Ph.D., J.D., Chair of the Burton Blatt Institute, and University Professor at Syracuse University.

http://bbi.syr.edu/blanck/