Community Assessment - Health & Quality of Life in San Mateo
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economic growth

• The economy of San Mateo County has accelerated in the past three years and now outpaces the nation, the state, and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area. The economy expanded by over 7% in 1996 as measured by the inflation adjusted value of gross regional product.²⁰⁰

• The availability of venture capital greatly improved the business climate for San Mateo’s small and rapidly growing technology-based industries. This is one of the county’s greatest advantages for long-term growth. ²⁰¹

• The business climate is particularly fertile for firms that produce high-value products and rely upon high-skill workers for development of their product. Education levels are above-average and venture capital is readily available. Access to national and global markets is available through the county’s San Francisco International Airport and via the Bay Area’s sea port. ²⁰²

• Productivity in San Mateo County is 28% higher than the national average when measured by the value of total output per worker. It is also slightly higher than average for the Bay Area. ²⁰³

• Export trade is a vital component of San Mateo’s economy, yet data available through 1995 show that the dollar volume of exports declined by 13% between 1994 and 1995. While shipments declined for computers and other industrial equipment, they rose for electric and electronic equipment as well as scientific and measuring instruments. ²⁰⁴

• Taxable sales accelerated in fiscal year 1995-1996, finally responding to the county’s stronger economic performance. Sales increased by over 9% following several years of moribund sales growth. ²⁰⁵

• The cost of doing business in San Mateo County is approximately 20% higher than the nation. Utility, labor, and tax burdens are all substantially higher than the national average.²⁰⁶

employment

• Job growth has led to very low unemployment in San Mateo County. In 1997, the unemployment rate was 2.8% versus 6.2% throughout California. The San Mateo County rate was lowest among the 58 California counties.²⁰⁷ Furthermore, in San Mateo County, there are only 3 job seekers for every new job, compared to 7 per job at the state level. ²⁰⁸

• While San Mateo County as a whole enjoys
  a very low unemployment rate, there is substantial diversity in the unemployment rates among some of the cities in the county. For instance, as of October 1997, Half Moon Bay and San Carlos showed the lowest unemployment rates, with 1.5% each. By comparison, East Palo Alto and Daly City had the highest unemployment rates, 6.6% and 3.3%, respectively.²⁰⁹

• Job growth in San Mateo County continues to grow at a healthy rate. Total jobs are expected to rise from 318,350 in 1995 to 363,340 in 2000, with the largest net increases anticipated in business services (computer and data processing, advertising, personnel supply, equipment rental and leasing, mailing, reproduction and stenographic services); other services (health services, legal services, educational services, social services, engineering and management services, and auto and miscellaneous repair services); and retail trade. Between 1995 and 2000, jobs in business services are expected to grow a remarkable 44%. On the other hand, declines are anticipated in government and agricultural jobs. ²¹⁰

• Major industry clusters – such as biotechnology, multimedia/software, and engineering/science – are also thriving in San Mateo’s environment of high skills and venture capital investment. Each of these industries is producing jobs at an accelerating pace, well ahead of the rest of the Bay Area and the nation as a whole.²¹¹

• Employment growth in the county accelerated dramatically in 1995 and 1996, reaching over 5% annual growth. Over 30,000 jobs have been created in San Mateo County since 1993, the last year in which employment suffered a decline.²¹²

• The 10 largest employers in San Mateo County provide 11.8% of the county’s jobs. United Airlines employed the most people as of March 1997, with 17,699 full-time positions. Even so, 98% of the county’s businesses have less than 100 employees. ²¹³

• A total of 46.8% of San Mateo County survey participants in 1998 rate local employment opportunities as "excellent" or "very good," while 20.4% rate them as "fair" or "poor." Among adults in households living at or below 185% of the federal poverty threshold, however, 42.5% offer "fair/poor" evaluations (185% of the federal poverty level is currently $30,433 household income for a family of four). Higher "fair/poor" responses are also noted among African-American and Coastside residents.²¹⁴

• Although employment is continuing to expand in San Mateo County, many jobs that are created require education and/or job skills. Thus, job training will be increasingly important.²¹⁵ In the 1998 survey, 32.4% of county adults reported that they believe they need additional work skills or job training. This indication rises to 50.3% among those living at or below the 185% federal poverty threshold. ²¹⁶

Income

• In San Mateo County, mean household income is projected to rise from $77,900 in 1995 to $86,800 in 2000. ²¹⁷

• In 1997, the median income for a family of four in the county was $64,400.²¹⁸ See the map on the following page of a geographic breakout of median income. ²¹⁹

• Per capita income in San Mateo County in 1996 was $36,845, higher than the Bay Area ($31,620) and California ($25,144) averages, and 50% higher than the U.S. average ($24,312). ²²⁰

• In 1996, there were 2,527 personal bankruptcy filings in San Mateo County, up 16.4% from 1995. However, statewide and nationally, bankruptcy filings were up 27% and 29%, respectively, in 1996. ²²¹

• In comparison to respondents in a similar national survey, a much greater share of San Mateo County respondents have annual household incomes of $50,000 and above. ²²²

• A total of 54.1% of San Mateo County adult survey respondents rate their current financial situation as "excellent" or "very good," in terms of being able to afford adequate food and housing and pay the bills they currently have. Another 30.3% rate their financial situation as "good," while 15.7% rate it as "fair" or "poor." Among those living below 185% poverty, "fair/poor" responses escalate to 61.7%. ²²³

• Compared to a year ago, 38.2% of San Mateo County survey respondents in 1998 believe that they are "much" or "somewhat" better off financially. Another 54% say they are doing "about the same." Only 7.8% feel they are "somewhat" or "much" worse off financially than a year ago. However, 21.5% of those living below 185% poverty believe their financial situation has worsened, compared to only 5% of those living at more than 400% poverty. ²²⁴

poverty

• In 1989 (the latest data available is through the 1990 U.S. Census), 6.3% of San Mateo County residents lived below the federal poverty threshold. This is lower than found throughout the Bay Area (9.1%), California (12.5%), and the U.S. (13.1%).²²⁵

• Despite a booming economy, 8% of San Mateo County children under the age of 14 (9,747 children) live in poverty. This includes 4,250 children aged 5 or younger, and 5,497 children aged 6 though 13. ²²⁶

• In 1996, 27% of children were considered to be low-income, living in families with incomes below $29,000 for a family of four. The 1998 federal poverty thresholds are outlined on the following page.²²⁷
• Because of the need to move people off welfare and into the workforce, there will be increased demand for services and facilities that will enable household heads to enter the labor force. Examples of these services and facilities include affordable child care, after school activities for older children, and transportation to job training and/or employment sites. ²²⁸

• For a family of three to maintain self-sufficiency in San Mateo County, they need to earn a minimum gross annual income of $37,339 (equivalent to $19.45 per hour), provided they utilize public transit. To maintain self-sufficiency using a personal vehicle, a family of three needs to earn a minimum gross annual income of $41,342 (equivalent to $21.53 per hour). ²²⁹

• An indicator of the uneven concentration of poverty in San Mateo County can be found in the geographic distribution of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) caseload. This is described in the following map. As shown, the greatest caseloads are in North and South County, namely Daly City, Colma, South San Francisco, Redwood City and East Palo Alto.²³⁰

229  Review of newspaper-advertised rents; Housing Authority; HUD Section 8 allowances; Pacific Bell; USDA Thrifty Food Plan; SamTrans; Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. Department of Labor; 1997 Regional Market Rate Survey of CA Child Care Providers, Child Care Coordinating Council.

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