It’s no secret most employers can’t shut down operations due to inclement weather.

Strong storms across the Gulf Coast left many daily commuters trapped along the Causeway and other flooded streets on Wednesday, April 10, begging the question — how many people actually travel to and from Baldwin County everyday for work?

That answer is 38.5% of Baldwin County residents in the workforce commute outside of the county to make their living, according to the Baldwin by the Numbers 2024 Vol. 1 Workforce Report via Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. U.S. Census Bureau data from 2022 lists 42,939 outbound commuters, 23,656 inbound commuters and 44,804 people living and working inside Baldwin County.

“Baldwin County has improved its overall labor force participation, surpassing the state average this year after trailing last year,” Baldwin County EDA wrote. “This indicates more Baldwin County residents are participating in the workforce than most of Alabama. Baldwin County significantly outperforms the national average when assessing its prime-age workforce participation while only slightly behind the state average. This is backed by Baldwin County’s median workforce age, which remains competitive nationally at 43.9, slightly above the national average of 42.3.”

While 59.1% of Baldwin County participates in the labor force compared to the 57.6% state average (via JobsEQ), many of those workers leave the area because there are simply not enough job opportunities. Baldwin by the Numbers estimates the annual workforce pipeline produces over 16,500 candidates, coming from Coastal Alabama Community College, South Alabama, Baldwin County Public Schools, Baldwin Prep and net inbound migration. In the same breath, average annual job creation for the county sits at 2,672, granting the overwhelming majority no choice but to look elsewhere for career advancement.

“There is a noticeable gap between the current career seekers and the growing demand for local job opportunities,” the report states. “This emphasizes the need for diversified employment opportunities in Baldwin County to address the increasing demand. …The need for additional job opportunities in Baldwin County is reinforced by the commuting patterns of its residents. Over 38% of working individuals in the county commute outside Baldwin County for employment, indicating a growing need for diverse and local job options.”

JobsEQ tracks Baldwin County job growth up 19.5% from 2015 to 2023, with population increasing 20.3% in that same span.