The Economic Value of Water and Ecosystem Preservation

Refugio shows a rapid decrease in the level of poverty compared to the other
counties analyzed. In 2001, there were 16.7 percent of people living below the
poverty line and in 2004 this percentage decreased to 14.7, a decrease from
1,385 to 1,125 people living under such conditions during this time period (Figure
5-2).
Real per capita personal income in Refugio is the highest compared to the
other counties, but still lower than Texas and the nation. It increased from
$24,901 ($25,610) in 2001 to $28,238 ($29,195) in 2005 and in 2005 it was
ranked 61 st within the 254 counties in Texas (Figure 5-3). The real average wage
per job also increased from $21,927 ($22,551) in 2001 to $24,333 ($25,158) in
2005 (Figure 5-4), still relatively low compared to the rest of the state.
The total number of full-time and part-time jobs and the unemployment rate
since 2000 has been cyclical. In 2001, the total number of jobs was 3,249 and in
2005 it was 3,391, an increase of 4.4 percent (Bureau of Economic Analysis,
2007). The unemployment rate increased from 4.10% in 2000 to 5.00% in 2005
(Figure 5-5). Similar to the other counties, the unemployment rate decreased to
4.9 percent in 2006 and from January 2007 to June 2007, the average
unemployment rate fell further to 4.3 percent.
Figure 5-8 shows the percentage of employment by sector in 2005 in
Refugio. Due to privacy concerns, many sectors do not show the actual number
of jobs; however, it is possible to estimate that the government is the County’s
major employer, accounting for 24% of total employment, followed by trade
(13%), mining (oil and gas) extraction (9%) and construction (9%). It is not
possible to determine the number of jobs in the Fishing sector since no data were
available.
Figure 5-8. Employment Sectors Pie Chart, Refugio, 2005
Manufacturing 1%
Real estate 2%
Admnistrative and
w aste services 2%
Sectors avoiding public
disclosure
(including fishing) 22%
Transportation,
Inf ormation
2%
Professional, technical
services 3%
Other services, except
public admnistration
10%
Finance, Insurance 4%
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2007
53
Governm ennt 24%
Trade
13%
Mining (oil and gas)
9%
Construction,
9%