Eau Claire is a diverse city with a very young population. Twenty to twenty four year olds make up the largest percentage of age groups in Eau Claire thanks to the institutions of higher learning. Even though the demographic is predominantly white with a large Hmong population, the community endorses diversity through restaurants, ethnic stores, and festivals that celebrate diverse cultural heritage.

The total population of Eau Claire is 68,587 (2017) and growing. Between the years 2000 and 2010, the city added 4,179 residents (a growth rate of 6.7%), accounting for almost 75% of the county's population growth.

Many people in Eau Claire have looked to suburban housing and have migrated outside the city. For example, the neighboring Town of Pleasant Valley has grown at a rate of 16.4%, making it the fastest growing municipality in Eau Claire County. Not surprisingly, the most heavily populated townships in the county are surrounding the city, with residents commuting to the city every day for work.

Eau Claire has a very diverse workforce. From highly-skilled to non-skilled workers, Eau Claire can offer any company a wide range of employee options. Eau Claire has over 68,000 residents. The city shares its northern border, and its workforce, with Chippewa Falls (pop. 14,035). Eau Claire County and Chippewa County are considered a metropolitan statistical area by the federal government, a designation given to areas with high degrees of social and economic integration. The mean travel time to work was 18.2 minutes for residents in Eau Claire County in 2016, with 82.42% of residents commuting 24 minutes or less.

The Eau Claire area population is well educated, with 67% of citizens having some college experience, 31.8% having a bachelor's degree or higher and 93.9% having a high-school degree.

The labor force participation rate is the percentage of an area's 16 years and older non-institutional population that is in the labor force. Eau Claire's labor force participation was an estimated 71.1% in 2016, higher than the statewide average of 66.9%. The average unemployment rate was 3.1% in 2017, slightly below the state average which was 3.3%. 

Education and health occupations provide the greatest share of employment in Eau Claire County. These occupations, the backbone of the massive service industry, employed 28.1% of Eau Claire's workforce in 2016.

Eau Claire County's median household income in 2016 was $50,538, the average wage in Wisconsin was $54,610. Eau Claire County's largest industry is Education and Health, employing over 15,500 people in Eau Claire's workforce in 2016. The next largest industry is Retail Trade, which employed 9,734 people or 17.6% of Eau Claire's workforce in 2016.

For more information, check out the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

As of December 2017 the Eau Claire MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) unemployment ranked lower than most other Wisconsin MSAs at an average of 3.1%. The MSA with the lowest reported unemployment was Madison (2.5%) and the MSA with the highest quarterly unemployment was Racine (4.1%).

Unemployment Rate Chart

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Through most of 2017 Eau Claire's unemployment remained below the state average unemployment rate.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Eau Claire has a young, vibrant, hard-working population that helps account for the area's competitive economy and creative community. Below are 2014 population statistics for the Eau Claire Metropolitan Statistical Area:

Source: United States Census Bureau, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates 2016 1-year Estimates

Residents of Eau Claire experience a comparatively high quality of life. The excellent education combined with a low crime rate, low cost of living, outstanding healthcare, and an abundance of arts and entertainment venues are all reasons why residents enjoy a top-notch lifestyle. Here are some of Eau Claire's quality of life measurements:

Sources: United States Census Bureau, ACS Educational Attainment 2016 1-year Estimates, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, CVTC

Residents of Eau Claire experience a comparatively high quality of life. The excellent education combined with a low crime rate, low cost of living, outstanding healthcare, and an abundance of arts and entertainment venues are all reasons why residents enjoy a top-notch lifestyle. Here are some of Eau Claire's quality of life measurements:

Sources: The Council For Community and Economic Research C2ER Unites States Census Bureau, ACS 2010-2014 5-Year Estimates

Source: The Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI

Sources: Eau Claire Parks and Recreation EC Parks & Rec

2015 Building Valuations Best Year for Eau Claire

The 2015 construction season had a total building permit valuation of $198,203,287. This was the record for total blding valuatoin in a single construction. The previous record was set in 2009 with $197,605,369.

Commercial & Office spending represented the largest share of building valuations again in 2015. From 2011-2012, Miscellaneous spending represented the largest share.