(Source: www.qualityinfo.org)

By Damon Runberg, Regional Economist

 

Tourism is a critical part of Deschutes County’s economy. It accounts for a large share of our employment base, total economic output, and wages paid. However, there are a variety of secondary benefits that are critically important, but much more difficult to quantify. Cities across the country are in direct competition with one another for top talent and it has long been assumed that lifestyle communities, such as Bend, are able to compete for that top talent based on access to recreational amenities and quality of life. Tourism introduces many prospective workers to a community, which can build a critical pipeline in the midst of a growing labor shortage. However, this assumption is not grounded in any known research. Are lifestyle communities outperforming standard metro areas when it comes to labor force growth? Read more…