Targeting occupations in regional and community economic development

This article analyzes why and how economic and community development planners might target occupations as well as industries in shaping an economic development strategy. Key occupations can be identified on the basis of capturability, high relative employment growth rates, connectivity across industries, fit with underemployed workforce groups, and potential for entrepreneurship. I demonstrate the potential for targeting occupations with quantitative and qualitative evidence on performing arts occupations for a set of medium-sized metropolitan areas and make the case for occupational location and development theories analogous to those for industry. I close by outlining steps planners can follow to incorporate occupational targeting into their work.