Decatur, Avondale Estates Businesses Profiled by Census

Decatur businesses grew slightly in terms of employment from 1998 to 2008, but the number of people working in Avondale Estates-based employers fell over that same period, according to a Patch analysis of recently released U.S. Census Bureau figures.

A total of 11,513 people were working in Decatur-based businesses in 2008, an increase of 302 people from 1998’s figure of 11,211. Annual payroll for Decatur businesses also increased over that time, from $310,392 in 1998 to 2008’s figure of $382,249.

But in Avondale Estates, while the number of establishments increased, the number of employees working in them declined. In 1998, 117 businesses were based in the city, employing 924 people. In 2008, 10 additional businesses were operating, but the number of actual employees had fallen to 902.

Annual payroll for Avondale Estates businesses also rose over that 10-year period, from $27,016 in 1998 to $30,140 in 2008.

Other findings by the Census Bureau:

• Professional, scientific and technical services firms dominated both cities’ business profiles from 1998 to 2008. There were 290 such firms operating in Decatur in 2008 (218 in 1998), and 46 in Avondale Estates (27 in 1998).
• Retail trade operations and educational services were Decatur’s only businesses employing 500-999 people in 2008. In 1998, only the field of educational services employed 500-999 people.
• No businesses in Avondale Estates employed more than 250 people. In 2008, the construction industry was the city’s biggest employer, with 10 firms operating in the city and three employing 100-249 people. In 1998, there were 11 construction firms in the city, with two employing 100-249 people.