2026 E-Insights Report

Recent Full-Time Workers Below the Poverty Line (Currently Unemployed)

  • Tampa Bay’s count of individuals who worked full-time year-round yet remained below the poverty line has shown a mild but consistent rise since 2019, suggesting limited wage resilience among the region’s recently unemployed.
  • While Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth lead with substantially higher numbers, Tampa Bay’s values remain near the median among peer MSAs, close to Denver and Seattle.
  • The competitive ranking shows Tampa Bay holding a mid-upper position over the past decade, improving slightly since 2021, which indicates a relatively stable but not improving economic security for full-time workers facing unemployment.
Bar Graph

Trend Over Time

Trend Over Time Line Graph

Competitive Position Trend

Competitive Position Trend Line Graph

About: This indicator measures the number of unemployed individuals aged 16 and over who worked full-time, year-round during the past 12 months and whose income during that period fell below the federal poverty threshold. It reflects the persistence of working poverty within the labor market and highlights the vulnerability of full-time workers who, despite continuous employment, remain economically insecure when they lose their jobs. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) , Table B17009 – Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months by Work Experience of Unemployed Population 16 Years and Over, 1-Year Estimates (2013–2023). Data aggregated at the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) level for the 20 benchmark regions in the State of the Region framework.