Columbus
The Columbus, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of Bartholomew County in south-central Indiana.* The city of Columbus, located 40 miles south of Indianapolis and known worldwide for its modern architecture, is the area’s principal municipality and its anchor.
* MSAs are defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.Quick Stats
Click on any quick stat to view details and a comparison table.
The Columbus Futurecast Event
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024
Lunch served at 11:30 am.
The Commons Nugent-Custer Performance Hall & Upper Lobby
300 Washington Street,
Columbus, IN 47201
Featured Speakers at the Columbus Futurecast Event
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024
Join us to discuss how the changing economic environment will affect the local region, Indiana and the nation in the coming year.
Registration Closed»This event is co-hosted by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the IU Columbus Division of Business, the IBRC and the Kelley School of Business.
What did we say last year about the Columbus region?
Published December 2023
As a durable goods manufacturing-based economy, the Columbus MSA experienced significant economic volatility due to global supply chain issues and fluctuations in consumer spending related to the pandemic. Columbus concluded 2022 with lower annual average unemployment than 2021. During 2023, the unemployment rate moved to 3.0% or higher during five of the first eight months. Current expectations are for local economic output to increase during 2023 in light of vehicle production and sales projections.
Columbus may experience declining real GDP between 2.0% and 5.0%, similar to the 2013-2016 time period. Weakness in the automotive and durable goods sector, fueled by continued supply chain issues and high interest rates, combined with declining consumer confidence, would be key to this scenario.
Unemployment may increase to between 4.0% and 5.0% in 2024 due to slack in the manufacturing sector and the addition of up to 1,500 new entrants into the job market. In this scenario, the number of employed is expected to decrease by between 0 and 1,000 in 2024. We expect this economic weakening to materialize in the first half of 2024.
Read the full Columbus article »
Each year in December, the Indiana Business Research Center publishes a special Outlook edition of the Indiana Business Review.
Published continuously since 1926, the Indiana Business Review is a quarterly publication that provides analysis and insight on economic and demographic issues.