ERSys® - Exploratory Research System

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region – Industry Affiliation

The array of different industries in a county significantly impacts its economy in various ways, contributing to economic stability, growth, and resilience. Here are some key effects:

Economic Stability and Resilience
- Diversification Reduces Risk: A county with a diverse range of industries is less vulnerable to economic shocks. If one industry faces a downturn, others can help stabilize the economy.
- Resilience to Market Fluctuations: Different industries often respond differently to market conditions. For example, while manufacturing might decline during a recession, healthcare or education might remain stable.
Job Creation and Employment
- Variety of Employment Opportunounties: A mix of industries provides a wide range of job opportunounties, catering to different skill sets and education levels.
- Reduced Unemployment: Diversification helps maintain lower unemployment rates, as job losses in one sector can be offset by gains in another.
Innovation and Competitiveness
- Cross-Industry Collaboration: Different industries can foster innovation through collaboration. For example, technology companies working with healthcare providers can lead to advancements in medical technology.
- Attracting Talent: A diverse industrial base attracts a skilled workforce, enhancing the county's competitiveness and ability to innovate.
Economic Growth and Development
- Increased GDP: A variety of industries contribute to the county's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), driving overall economic growth.
- Infrastructure Development: The presence of multiple industries often leads to better infrastructure, such as transportation, utilounties, and communication networks, which further supports economic activounties.
Tax Revenue and Public Services
- Higher Tax Revenue: A diverse industrial base generates more tax revenue from different sources, including corporate taxes, income taxes, and sales taxes.
- Funding for Public Services: Increased tax revenue allows the county to invest in public services like education, healthcare, and public safety, improving the quality of life for residents.
Attracting Investment
- Investor Confidence: A diversified economy is more attractive to investors, as it reduces the risk associated with economic downturns in any single industry.
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Counties with a variety of industries are more likely to attract FDI, which can further boost economic growth.
Quality of Life
- Variety of Goods and Services: A diverse economy ensures a wide range of goods and services are available to residents, improving their quality of life.
- Cultural and Social Benefits: Different industries often bring cultural and social diversity, enriching the county's cultural landscape and community life.
Environmental Impact
- Sustainable Practices: A mix of industries can promote sustainable practices, as different sectors may adopt varying approaches to environmental responsibility.
- Balanced Resource Use: Diversification can lead to more balanced use of natural resources, reducing the environmental footprint of the county.
Global Connectivity
- Trade and Export Opportunounties: A diverse industrial base enhances a county's ability to engage in international trade, exporting a variety of goods and services.
- Global Networks: Different industries often have global networks, increasing the county's connectivity and integration into the global economy.

In summary, the presence of a diverse array of industries in a county fosters economic stability, growth, and resilience, while also enhancing the quality of life for its residents and attracting investment and talent. This diversification is crucial for sustainable long-term economic development.

A diversification score measures the diversity of the industries in the county. As the value appoaches 100, industry diversity decreases and therefore increasing the risk of economic failure for the county should those limited industries befall a calamity. The industry diversification score for this county is:

12.75

Most common industry excluding Educational Services is:

Wholesale/ Retail

Description	Employed 16 and Over	Agriculture/ Mining/ Construction	Manufacturing	Wholesale/ Retail	Transportation	Information	Finance/ Insurance/ Real Estate	Professional Services	Management Services	Administrative/ Waste Services	Educational Services	Entertainment Services	Other Professional Services	Public Administration

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	171,981	12,456	15,292	23,360	8,249	3,548	15,290	14,390	456	8,964	44,580	12,783	7,738	4,875
Connecticut (in 000's)	1,947	128	206	244	90	39	173	156	3	79	521	153	84	72
National (in 000's)	170,845	14,583	16,949	22,452	10,044	3,190	11,493	13,847	217	7,124	39,934	14,842	8,027	8,142
Suffolk County	776,848	62,456	46,484	101,912	42,603	17,163	57,977	70,419	568	28,229	225,164	53,263	30,704	39,906
Western Connecticut Planning Region	347,364	23,678	27,242	42,345	12,214	11,093	45,967	40,858	617	18,896	74,101	25,306	17,114	7,933
South Central Connecticut Planning Region	303,522	17,842	31,384	35,569	13,999	5,650	18,250	20,545	538	10,458	101,242	23,885	12,908	11,252
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	239,479	16,640	28,321	31,774	11,129	4,282	16,733	15,693	188	9,449	67,230	16,937	11,124	9,979

Per Cent to Total Employed 16 and Over	Diversity Index

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region	12.75	7.24	8.89	13.58	4.80	2.06	8.89	8.37	0.27	5.21	25.92	7.43	4.50	2.83
Connecticut	13.06	6.56	10.59	12.52	4.61	2.00	8.91	8.03	0.14	4.04	26.74	7.85	4.29	3.72
National	11.77	8.54	9.92	13.14	5.88	1.87	6.73	8.11	0.13	4.17	23.37	8.69	4.70	4.77
Suffolk County	13.88	8.04	5.98	13.12	5.48	2.21	7.46	9.06	0.07	3.63	28.98	6.86	3.95	5.14
Western Connecticut Planning Region	11.60	6.82	7.84	12.19	3.52	3.19	13.23	11.76	0.18	5.44	21.33	7.29	4.93	2.28
South Central Connecticut Planning Region	16.04	5.88	10.34	11.72	4.61	1.86	6.01	6.77	0.18	3.45	33.36	7.87	4.25	3.71
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region	13.73	6.95	11.83	13.27	4.65	1.79	6.99	6.55	0.08	3.95	28.07	7.07	4.65	4.17

Comparisons to State Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region		110.46	83.93	108.52	104.13	102.90	99.79	104.23	185.99	129.06	96.93	94.69	104.83	76.24
Connecticut		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
National		130.19	93.64	104.99	127.63	93.13	75.51	100.96	89.23	103.25	87.41	110.68	109.47	128.19
Suffolk County		122.62	56.48	104.81	119.05	110.20	83.77	112.92	51.29	89.98	108.38	87.35	92.09	138.17
Western Connecticut Planning Region		103.96	74.02	97.39	76.33	159.29	148.53	146.52	124.60	134.70	79.77	92.81	114.79	61.43
South Central Connecticut Planning Region		89.65	97.60	93.62	100.13	92.85	67.49	84.32	124.34	85.32	124.73	100.25	99.09	99.71
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region		105.97	111.62	106.00	100.89	89.19	78.42	81.63	55.07	97.70	104.98	90.10	108.23	112.08

Comparisons to National Norms	% to Total >= 150%		% to Total < 50%

Greater Bridgeport Planning Region		84.85	89.63	103.36	81.59	110.49	132.16	103.23	208.43	125.01	110.90	85.56	95.76	59.48
Connecticut		76.81	106.80	95.25	78.35	107.37	132.44	99.05	112.07	96.86	114.41	90.35	91.35	78.01
National		100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00
Suffolk County		94.19	60.32	99.82	93.28	118.32	110.94	111.84	57.48	87.15	124.00	78.92	84.12	107.79
Western Connecticut Planning Region		79.86	79.05	92.76	59.81	171.03	196.71	145.12	139.63	130.46	91.26	83.86	104.86	47.92
South Central Connecticut Planning Region		68.87	104.23	89.17	78.45	99.70	89.38	83.51	139.34	82.64	142.70	90.58	90.51	77.79
Naugatuck Valley Planning Region		81.40	119.21	100.96	79.05	95.76	103.87	80.85	61.71	94.63	120.10	81.41	98.86	87.43

Sources: STI: PopStats, Circa April 2025