WAKE & JOHNSTON COUNTIES – New data released by Facebook through the social media company’s Data for Good project in partnership with Direct Relief show that, on some metrics pertaining to business operations as measured by certain activities tracked on the social media giant’s platform, many North Carolina businesses are still struggling due to factors caused by or exacerbated by the changes in the economy following the onset of the global coronavirus pandemic.

Specifically, the travel and retail industries are struggling in Wake and Johnston Counties, and restaurants are struggling across much of the rest of the state.  But not necessarily those in Johnston County, right now.

The data, which the company made available through an interactive dashboard, shows that content pertaining to local events in Wake County remains at about 75% of pre-pandemic levels and in Johnston County, at about 80%.  Those pertaining to traveling across North Carolina remain at 74% of their pre-pandemic levels in Wake County, and even lower in Johnston County, at 65%.

But there are even larger differences between Wake County and neighboring Johnston County, as well.

In the retail sector, for instance, Wake County businesses are posting about 90% of their pre-pandemic posts, but in Johnston County, that number is closer to 70%.  Conversely, in restaurants and hospitality, Johnston County is actually above pre-pandemic levels, reaching 105% at its peak, in the last week, whereas Wake County restaurant posts remain at about 70% of pre-pandemic levels.

“This data suggests that while certain types of businesses in the Triangle continue to recover and thrive, the economic recovery from COVID-19 is uneven and not evenly distributed,” said Facebook policy manager Laura McGorman.  “For example, while manufacturing businesses in Orange and Wake county are posting at even higher levels compared to early 2020, restaurants, travel companies, and local events business all still remain at between 60-75% posting levels compared to early 2020.”

 

400,000+ businesses have closed during pandemic – here’s how new SBA exec aims to help

 

This data suggests that specific types of support, uniquely tailored to businesses that are likely to be struggling, may be required to achieve full economic recovery from the pandemic, said McGorman.

And that specific support could be tailored to the type of business, rather than the geography of the business, as McGorman stated that there was not any significant difference in business posting level between more rural counties in North Carolina compared to more urban counties in the state.

“The changes in business posting level across urban and rural counties in North Carolina are not significantly different, but highly rural counties often experience business pages with bigger spikes and drops in activity due to a smaller total number of businesses in that county,” said McGorman.  “For example, in Perquimans County, we see higher variability in posting behavior over the course of the last year, likely due to the fact that a fewer number of total businesses in influencing the overall trend.”

 

Small businesses: some boom, some bust, with “enormous variance,” finds report