An area's labor force provides insight on the availability factor and is residence-based—that is, the people are working or seeking work and reside in the particular county or region.
| Annual Labor Force Estimates in 2021 | ||
| Number | Pct. Chg. from 2000 | |
| Labor Force | 45,481 | -10.4% |
| Employed | 43,523 | -10.6% |
| Unemployed | 1,958 | -4.3% |
| Rate | 4.3 | 7.5% |
| Labor Force Estimates | |||||
| Labor Force | Emp. | Unemp. | Area Rate | State Rate | |
| 2011 | 51,135 | 45,548 | 5,587 | 10.9 | 10.1 |
| 2012 | 50,169 | 45,259 | 4,910 | 9.8 | 8.2 |
| 2013 | 49,588 | 45,021 | 4,567 | 9.2 | 7.5 |
| 2014 | 49,505 | 45,748 | 3,757 | 7.6 | 5.9 |
| 2015 | 48,977 | 45,990 | 2,987 | 6.1 | 4.8 |
| 2016 | 49,419 | 46,792 | 2,627 | 5.3 | 4.4 |
| 2017 | 48,956 | 46,914 | 2,042 | 4.2 | 3.5 |
| 2018 | 49,172 | 47,041 | 2,131 | 4.3 | 3.4 |
| 2019 | 46,991 | 44,941 | 2,050 | 4.4 | 3.3 |
| 2020 | 46,209 | 42,549 | 3,660 | 7.9 | 7.3 |
| 2021 | 45,481 | 43,523 | 1,958 | 4.3 | 3.9 |