Recent Release | 18 Dec 2023

The Socioeconomic Impacts of Employer Investments on Local Communities

Economic Consulting Team

Oxford Economics

Oxford Economics has undertaken a ground-breaking research programme to shed new light on how a new major employer can transform a host community.

Using data on large investments in US counties and socioeconomic outcomes, we have quantified how these investments can influence a community’s well-being. The results tell a compelling story – large employer investments don’t just bring jobs; they inject economic dynamism into the local economy. The benefits are diverse, from increased entrepreneurial activity to better job market participation and improved prosperity for workers. We even found broader social effects, such as shifts to private healthcare insurance and a lower violent crime rate.

In essence, our research demonstrates that new large businesses contribute significantly to the well-being of the communities they enter. These investments foster shared prosperity, enhance social connections, and create lasting positive effects. Furthermore, our findings show that these benefits are not short-lived but continue to grow over time.

Download the report to find out how we approached this research and to gain valuable insights into the long-term impact of large employer investments on local communities.

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Laurence Wilse-Samson

Lead Economist, Economic Impact

Boubacar Drame

Head of Econometric Methods, Economic Impact

Luke Miller

Lead Econometrician, Economic Impact

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