Tag: research product

A tool for inclusive growth: The San Diego Investment Map

By San Diego Regional EDC,

New digital tool to help inform inclusive growth in housing, childcare, industry

Today, EDC launched the San Diego Investment Map, a new digital tool to inform strategic, inclusive growth across the region. As part of EDC’s Inclusive Growth Initiative, the Investment Map provides a first-of-its-kind interactive data tool to support decision making across core facets of the local economy: childcare, middle-income housing, and corporate site selection.

Pulling a variety of datasets into an easy-to-use dashboard, the San Diego Investment Map allows users to explore San Diego County through a different lens. The interactive dashboards include data and analyses, and serve to shine a light on the region’s greatest threats to economic competitiveness: a jobs and housing imbalance, among other affordability challenges.

Key takeaways:

  • CHILDCARE: San Diego has 327 childcare ‘deserts’ spread throughout the region, making up nearly half of all census tracts. The Investment Map can pinpoint gaps in childcare supply and help narrow sites for prioritization.
  • HOUSING: Seventy-four percent of San Diego’s population is middle- to low-income, yet only 2.5 percent of permitted housing development needed in the region accommodates these groups. The Investment Map can identify zones with existing building incentives, community plan updates, as well as new commercial development where workforce housing may be needed.
  • INDUSTRY: There are 15.6 million rentable square feet of commercial space being developed across the region, predominately concentrated in northern San Diego. While this includes enough office space for more than 42,000 employees, most workers live instead in the southern and eastern parts of the region. The Investment Map can assist companies in site selection based on occupation hubs, commute trends, and other infrastructure assets that meet their operational needs.

“The San Diego Investment Map serves as a tool for local policy makers, developers, and employers to make informed and deliberate decisions to prioritize the region’s inclusive growth. Using geographic storytelling, the map makes obvious the gaps in our economy—limited childcare; disjointed development both in terms of location and income-level; rising costs with no end in sight. Data-driven solutions to alleviate these challenges will safeguard San Diego’s competitiveness,” said Teddy Martinez, Sr. Research Manager, San Diego Regional EDC.

Explore the Map

About the Inclusive Growth Initiative

The innovation economy will continue to make San Diego more prosperous than many of its peers, but it is not accessible to the fastest-growing segment of the region’s population. This mismatch between our regional assets and our economy’s future needs will consistently erode the region’s competitiveness.

Launched in 2018, EDC’s Inclusive Growth Initiative serves to communicate these challenges, making the business case for economic inclusion across San Diego. By 2030, County, City, private sector and academic leaders have pledged their commitments to the initiative’s goals: 50,000 new quality jobs in small businesses, 20,000 new skilled workers annually, and 75,000 newly thriving households. See how we’re tracking here.

The San Diego Investment Map marks a new tool for employers and stakeholders to engage in this work, specifically tackling the thriving households goal.

“Inclusion is an economic and business imperative. It’s more than DE&I in the workplace—it’s about ensuring all San Diegans have the resources and infrastructure needed to thrive in this region. The Investment Map highlights all the work we still have to do to make that possible,” said Lisette Islas, EDC vice chair of Inclusive Growth, and EVP and Chief Impact Officer of MAAC.

The San Diego Investment Map was authored by San Diego Regional EDC, with support and counsel provided by Buzz Woolley and Mary Walshok.

Learn more about inclusive growth

Explore the Map

Interested in a demo, or getting involved? Contact EDC:

Teddy Martinez
Teddy Martinez

Sr. Manager, Research

 

San Diego’s Economic Snapshot: Q1 2023

By EDC Research Bureau,

Every quarter, San Diego Regional EDC analyzes key economic indicators that are important to understanding the regional economy and the region’s standing relative to the 25 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S.

EDC explains San Diego’s Q1 2023 economic data:

Key findings from Q1 2023:

  1. OFFICE SPACE: Firms look to cut costs as remote work remains popular. In Q1, office space experienced a huge decline in net absorption, meaning more offices became vacant than occupied. The last time San Diego experienced this level of negative net absorption was in Q4 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Downtown (92101) continues to experience rising vacancy rates since 2020. With asking rates at an all-time high of $3.25 per sq. ft. and employees still interested in remote work, office tenants are reducing their footprint as leases come due.
  2. JOBS: San Diego leads employment growth in California. With 3.3 percent job growth compared to a year ago, San Diego outpaced California peers and stands amongst fast-growing metros in the country. San Diego adds 50,300 more jobs compared to Q1 2022. The strongest growth locally came from Government and Leisure and Hospitality, adding 3,000 and 2,600 jobs respectively. Meanwhile, Trade, Transportation and Utilities shed 7,000 jobs.
  3. HOUSING: Home prices cool from last year’s highs. San Diego’s median home price reached $915,000 in Q1, which experienced an expected seasonal increase. However, prices are down 3.7 percent compared to a year ago. The Housing Affordability Index (HAI) in San Diego has remained at 15 percent for the past three quarters, making San Diego one of the most unaffordable counties in California.

Check out our most recent Economic Snapshot below

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Pushing forward – AI and San Diego

By EDC Research Bureau,

For the past two years alongside underwriter Booz Allen Hamilton, EDC has released a series of five studies on the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) within San Diego County’s key economic clusters. The reports represent the most comprehensive deep dive on San Diego’s AI-ML ecosystem—evolving and growing since the baseline report was published in December 2020.

The reports found, by and large, that AI-ML technologies are creating new jobs, not eliminating them. Furthermore, the high pay commanded by workers in AI-concentrated fields has positive ripple effects in the local economy; for every 1,000 jobs gained in this industry, another 1,400 are created in other sectors. And while San Diego is well-positioned to welcome a new era of this innovation, accessibility and compensation remain ongoing challenges across the region.

The growing talent gap

In order to maximize the full potential of AI-ML integration, San Diego must grow its skilled workforce. Demand for AI-ML talent is more than double our regional supply. In fact, San Diego produced fewer than 3,000 AI-ML-related graduates in 2021, meanwhile, more than 7,800 local unique job postings required AI-ML skills in 2022.

San Diego’s colleges, universities, and training programs are hard at work to bridge this gap. The region boasts a collective 118 degree-track programs focused on cybersecurity, many of which include AI-ML training, as well as numerous certificates on AI-ML methods. The growth of cybersecurity, smart urban development, and life sciences innovation will depend on the development of AI skills in the next generation of workers.

Connecting with a wide array of training programs, such as community colleges, certificate programs, and bootcamps, can help San Diego companies source talent locally.

Inclusion is key

Even as San Diego’s existing AI-ML talent supply is more racially diverse than the national average, it still lags in comparison to the region’s population demographics. Making growing industries and high-wage roles accessible to San Diego’s Black and Hispanic talent—our region’s fastest growing populations—would help San Diego companies enjoy a talent surplus, strengthen our region’s competitiveness, and enhance our ability to drive life-changing innovation. Ultimately, greater diversity in the workforce will make AI-ML tools more powerful.

More on inclusive growth

When implemented, AI-ML has the potential to help San Diego companies expedite life-saving drug discovery, thwart cyber threats, and revolutionize transportation and logistics. More importantly, AI-ML can help cities and regions improve affordability and quality of life for residents, as well as support job growth and business expansion.

“EDC’s AI series underscored that AI-ML adoption is creating new job opportunities, and the demand for these skills far outpaces the supply,” said Teddy Martinez, Senior Research Manager, EDC. “As we wrap with a focus on Smart Cities, it is clear that if done right, AI-ML also has the potential to advance economic inclusion and improve quality of life for more San Diegans.”

You can read our entire AI series here:

  1. Baseline AI-ML: Report | Summary
  1. AI-ML in Cybersecurity: Report | Summary
  1. AI-ML in Transportation: : Report | Summary
  1. AI-ML in Life Sciences: : Report | Summary
  1. AI-ML in Smart Cities: Report | Summary

Thank you to our underwriter Booz Allen Hamilton.

Learn more about EDC’s Research Bureau here

Get involved with EDC

Study: Artificial Intelligence has potential to supercharge San Diego Smart Cities efforts

By EDC Research Bureau,

EDC study assesses the economic impact of AI in Smart Cities

Today alongside underwriter Booz Allen Hamilton, San Diego Regional EDC released the fifth study in a series on the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) within San Diego County’s key economic clusters. “Designing the Future: Artificial Intelligence for Smart, Thriving Cities” explore the history and evolution of Smart Cities efforts around the world, and investigate whether these technologies can enable cities to be both more efficient and more inclusive.

By 2050, it is projected that more than two-thirds of the global population will reside in an urban area. This massive and rapid urbanization presents new challenges for cities around the world—San Diego included. Between 2010–2020, San Diego’s population increased 8.35 percent from 3 million to 3.3 million residents. As the region has grown, affordability, sustainability, and mobility have become major priorities for sustaining economic competitiveness and inclusion. AI-ML technology presents new opportunities, and new responsibility, for urban areas to unlock the potential of innovation to cultivate smart, thriving cities.

Underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton, the web-based study—smartcities.sandiegoAI.org—includes San Diego case studies on use of AI-ML in Smart Cities, a ‘tour’ of Smart Cities efforts around the globe, and makes the business case for prioritizing economic inclusion in Smart Cities efforts, among other assessments.

“EDC’s AI series underscored that AI-ML adoption is creating new job opportunities, and the demand for these skills far outpaces the supply,” said Teddy Martinez, Senior Research Manager, EDC. “As we wrap with a focus on Smart Cities, it is clear that if done right, AI-ML also has the potential to advance economic inclusion and improve quality of life for more San Diegans.”

KEY FINDINGS

  • AI-ML integration with Smart Cities efforts is still in the early stages. Smart Cities initiatives have evolved around the world from connected sensors and devices to promoting sustainability, efficiency, and mobility. Yet, local governments and businesses in San Diego have not yet fully integrated AI-ML into Smart Cities efforts.
  • Demand for AI-ML talent is more than double the supply in San Diego. The region produced fewer than 3,000 AI-ML-related graduates in 2021, meanwhile, more than 7,800 local unique job postings required AI-ML skills in 2022.
  • San Diego has above average concentrations in key industries that drive Smart Cities efforts, providing 50,454 jobs and an economic impact of $21.2 billion. Seven industries within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector also have the strongest appetite for AI-ML skills, responsible for one-in-four unique job postings in 2022.
  • Moving from smart to thriving is the next chapter for technologically advanced cities. Smart Cities technologies have contributed to efficiencies, but do not yet drive economic growth. With greater intention, these technologies can improve affordability and quality of life, as well as support job growth and business expansion.

San Diego’s growing innovation economy has gotten rightful praise as a “World’s Smart City” by National Geographic, and recently as a “World Design Capital” alongside Tijuana. Home to established companies Booz Allen Hamilton and Qualcomm, or scaling startups like Kneron and Measurabl, the region is largely defying the ‘tech correction’ and experiencing massive growth to drive AI-ML innovation locally and beyond.

“Measurabl uses AI-ML to revolutionize how businesses approach energy management. By providing real-time insights about energy use and identifying areas of inefficiency, we empower our clients to make data-driven decisions that cut costs and reduce environmental impact—ensuring company ESG (environment, social, governance) goals are measurable, manageable, and auditable,” said Frank Pressel, Data Science and Data Engineering Manager, Measurabl, founded in San Diego.

“As a proud part of San Diego’s tech ecosystem, Booz Allen—with 1,300 employees in the region—is hiring in droves for roles in software development, AI-ML, data engineering, and computer engineering. Together with industry, research, and academia, San Diego has the ingredients to lead in a Smart Cities future,” said Joe Rohner, Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton and a leader in the firm’s AI practice. “With the right integration and investments in AI-ML, our region can meet ambitious goals in sustainability, transportation, and inclusion. Developing the talent, and ensuring community buy-in, are critical to that success.”

The study series is underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton and produced by EDC. Learn more about EDC’s research here.

read the report at smartcities.sandiegoAI.org

see the full ai series here

San Diego’s Economic Snapshot: Q4 2022

By EDC Research Bureau,

Every quarter, San Diego Regional EDC analyzes key economic indicators that are important to understanding the regional economy and the region’s standing relative to the 25 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S.

EDC explains San Diego’s Q4 2022 economic data:

Key findings from Q4 2022:

  1. EMPLOYMENT: San Diego wraps Q4 with unemployment below pre-pandemic levels, at 2.9 percent.Even with a decreasing unemployment rate, San Diego continues to face a talent shortage and struggles to fill jobs in top industries like Life Sciences and Tech. For instance, the Communication Technologies and Manufacturing employment sectors are 800 and 3,700 jobs away from pre-pandemic levels, respectively.
  2. HOUSING: Median home price continues to drop through Q4, reaching $850,000. However, San Diego still ranks second most expensive among the most populous metro areas. On the housing supply side, a total of 9,443 housing construction permits were granted in 2022, which has remained relatively unchanged for the past three years. The housing affordability crisis has driven employers to take on the challenge directly. UCSD purchased an apartment building in Downtown’s East Village to provide housing for in a location near the MTS Blue Line Trolley to connect both the La Jolla campus and Hillcrest Medical Center.
  3. COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: Vacancy grows in office and industrial space in Q4. Trends show a negative net absorption for both office and industrial space for the past two quarters, indicating a decline in demand for commercial real estate space. This could be happening because of the continuing shift towards remote work and the lack of affordable commercial space. In Q4, asking rent prices reached an all-time high of $3.23 per square foot, potentially turning remote work into a more attractive option for employers.

Check out our most recent Economic Snapshot below

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San Diego’s Economic Snapshot: Q3 2022

By EDC Research Bureau,

Every quarter, San Diego Regional EDC analyzes key economic indicators that are important to understanding the regional economy and the region’s standing relative to the 25 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S.

EDC explains San Diego’s Q3 2022 economic data:

Key findings from Q3 2022:

  1. EMPLOYMENT: San Diego has recovered pandemic-related job losses overall, but some industries still lag. Manufacturing employment remains 6,200 jobs below pre-pandemic level, yet growth in manufacturing jobs far outpaces that of California and the U.S. The region’s unemployment rate dropped 0.1 percent from last quarter to 3.1 percent. Persistent talent shortages have resulted in large sums of public funding for workforce training; as an example, the San Diego Workforce Partnership was recently granted $10 million for training in emergency and healthcare services.
  2. VENTURE CAPITAL: Funding into San Diego cooled off. The region pulled in $1.08 billion in VC funding in Q3, with half ($549 million) going to Life Sciences. The region’s Life Sciences firms lead in VC funding and increasingly turn to artificial intelligence and machine learning to accelerate scientific advancement. RayzeBio was the largest recipient with $160 million to advance cancer radiopharmaceuticals. On the technology side, Hone, a local startup that provides an online training platform with live instruction aimed at boosting worker retention, raised $29.3 million.
  3. COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: Q3 experienced higher vacancy and lease rates for both office and industrial space. Net absorption of industrial space was negative for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. However, San Diego is also experiencing strong demand for industrial space—driving up asking rent prices as construction continues to slow. While office space also saw an increase in vacancies, asking rent prices reached a record high of $3.24 per square foot. Higher costs may be the deciding factor for companies considering adopting permanent remote or hybrid work arrangements that reduce their need for office space.

Check out our most recent Economic Snapshot below

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Study: San Diego’s Life Sciences cluster in the early stages of AI-ML boom

By EDC Research Bureau,

EDC study quantifies the impact of AI in region’s Life Sciences cluster

Today alongside underwriter Booz Allen Hamilton, San Diego Regional EDC released the fourth study in a series on the proliferation of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML) within San Diego County’s key economic clusters. “Diagnosing the Future: AI and San Diego’s Life Sciences Cluster” quantifies the economic impact of the region’s Life Sciences cluster and explores the proliferation of AI and ML technologies being used to diagnose disease and develop drugs, among other lifesaving products and solutions.

While the pandemic devastated many sectors of our economy, the Life Sciences cluster experienced a striking 11.2 percent job growth (51 percent over the last decade). The cluster boasts a $27 billion annual economic impact, with 1,800 Life Sciences firms employing more than 61,000 San Diegans—nearly three times as many Life Sciences jobs as the national average. Taking advantage of the region’s innovation ecosystem, San Diego’s Life Sciences cluster has increasingly integrated software and technology to maximize its impact, save time, and reduce costs.

Underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton, the web-based study—lifesciences.sandiegoAI.org—includes company case studies on local use of AI-ML, San Diego’s standing relative to peer metros in AI-ML integration, a timeline on the history of Life Sciences in San Diego, and the business case for economic inclusion within the cluster, among other assessment.

“This series serves to spotlight the importance of AI-ML application within the region’s key industries, helping drive productivity, job growth, and scientific innovation here and around the globe. With so many Life Sciences companies yet to fully tap into AI-ML, the impact we are already seeing in San Diego is just beginning,” said Mark Cafferty, president and CEO, EDC. “As always, EDC is committed to helping these firms thrive, creating more quality jobs for San Diegans.”

KEY FINDINGS

  • San Diego is a top Life Sciences growth market among AI-ML peer metros. The region has nearly three times as many Life Sciences jobs as the national average and commanded more than 13 percent of domestic venture funding into the industry in 2021.
  • San Diego’s Life Sciences companies are in the early stages of AI-ML adoption, paving way for exponential impact. While several San Diego Life Sciences subindustries have leveraged AI-ML technology in significant ways, just 18 percent of local firms are engaging with AI-ML.
  • San Diego Life Sciences companies have an outsized appetite for AI-ML talent but lag peer metros in accessibility and compensation. Local Life Sciences employers’ hiring for AI-ML talent largely demand post-secondary education but offer relatively low advertised compensation as compared to peer metros, which hinders the ability to compete for talent.
  • San Diego’s AI-ML talent pool is active and growing. The region already has a strong and growing supply of more than 15,000 AI-ML professionals across all industries. Rising degree completions in interdisciplinary fields, alongside new programs dedicated to producing AI-ML talent promise to deepen the talent pool.

“Whether for venture capital investment, jobs, talent, or innovation, San Diego is an undeniable leader in Life Sciences—changing the way patients around the world experience healthcare,” said Jennie Brooks, Senior Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton—board chair and underwriter of the EDC study series—and leader of the firm’s 1,200+ person San Diego office. “For less time and money, the integration of AI-ML can help firms further accelerate scientific discovery, but we need the talent to make it happen. While the Life Sciences proved resilient amid the pandemic, talent gaps are pervasive—with pay and access as the primary threats to our economic competitiveness.”

Life Sciences is an integral and rapidly growing piece of the San Diego regional economy. In 2021 alone, San Diego Life Sciences companies pulled in 13.1 percent of the $38.6 billion invested into Life Sciences nationwide. Supporting this growth, San Diego ranks fourth (4,300 in 2020) in Life Sciences degree completions among peer metros. Future and ongoing investment in Life Sciences companies and talent—most especially around compensation and accessibility—will ensure the longevity of this high impact industry and support its ability to compete.

“Our Informatics and Predictive Sciences team in San Diego is deploying AI-ML to accelerate the drug discovery process. These approaches benefit virtually every aspect of drug discovery from accelerating the rate at which our chemistry teams can optimize compounds, to allowing us to better predict which patient populations are most likely to benefit from a novel medicine. The objective is to enable BMS to bring successful and safe medications to patients faster by leveraging AI-ML,” said Neil Bence, Ph.D., Vice President of Oncology Discovery and San Diego Site Head, Bristol Myers Squibb

The study series is underwritten by Booz Allen Hamilton and produced by San Diego Regional EDC.  Learn more about EDC’s research here.

FULL STUDY AT LIFESCIENCES.SANDIEGOAI.ORG

Read the full AI series

San Diego’s Economic Snapshot: Q2 2022

By EDC Research Bureau,

Every quarter, San Diego Regional EDC analyzes key economic indicators that are important to understanding the regional economy and the region’s standing relative to the 25 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Key findings from Q2 2022:

  1. VENTURE CAPITAL: VC picked up speed in Q2, nearly doubling Q1 totals. The most significant increase was in San Diego’s Life Sciences sector, which jumped from $627 million to $1 billion. La Jolla-based National Resilience’s $625 million raise for biomanufacturing medicines was the largest among all sectors in Q2. Tech companies drew $593 million while Consumer companies pulled $211 million in funding.
  2. HOUSING: San Diego housing is the second most expensive among major metros. However, the median home price remained unchanged compared to the end of last quarter, at $950,000. Q2 closed off with a total of 5,773 issued housing permits. 2021 totals reached 9,358 permits, which means 2022 permit activity is on track compared to previous years. However, issued permits might have to pass previous years totals in order to meet the housing demand in the San Diego region*.
  3. EMPLOYMENT: Unemployment in San Diego has dropped below the national rate, at 3.2 percent. San Diego unemployment continues to approximate pre-pandemic levels (3.0 percent) and has already dropped below national pre-pandemic levels (3.4 percent). More specifically, nonfarm employment increased by 17,700 during Q2, and by 79,700 compared to a year ago. Leisure and Hospitality employment continues to increase for the fifth consecutive month, and currently represents around 10 percent of the sector in California (EDD).

*Data correction: Please note that the initially published Key Takeaways from Q2 2022 erroneously stated the number of housing permits for 2021 and 2022 YTD. The written summary has been updated with the correct values.

Check out our most recent Economic Snapshot below

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San Diego’s Economic Snapshot: Q1 2022

By EDC Research Bureau,

Every quarter San Diego Regional EDC analyzes key economic indicators that are important to understanding the regional economy and the region’s standing relative to the 25 most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S.

EDC explains San Diego’s Q1 2022 economic data:

Key Findings from Q1 2022:

  1. VENTURE CAPITAL: Strong VC funding in Life Sciences continues despite uncertainty surrounding inflation. Although high inflation and rising interest rates have been a concern recently, investments in Life Sciences companies only fell by about $10 million to $632 million from Q4, while investments in Tech companies returned to average levels. Total investment into the region exceeded $1 billion in Q1, an increase of more than $250 million compared to the quarterly average for 2019.
  2. COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE: Demand for lab space has a greater impact on CRE market than remote work arrangements. As businesses embrace hybrid and remote work, there is uncertainty surrounding the impact to the commercial real estate market. Data show that businesses are not completely abandoning the office, with many adopting hybrid work schedules that will only lead to a one to two percent reduction in office space requirements nationally. In San Diego, demand from the Life Sciences industry is even stronger, resulting in a seven percent increase in asking rates for lab space from Q4. According to CBRE, 6.5 million square feet of planned conversions and construction are expected to become available in the next three years.
  3. HOUSING: Home prices continue to soar despite fewer sales. The median home price in San Diego continues to climb, reaching $950,000 in March. This translates to an 18.8 percent increase in the median home price compared to March 2021. In fact, the year-ago increase in home prices has hovered consistently around 15 percent since August 2021, almost double the rate of inflation we have seen over the past 12 months. While rising mortgage rates have the potential to temper the housing market, the median home price continues to rise at a faster rate than the national average.

Check out our most recent Economic Snapshot below

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Now live: 2021 Downtown Demographics Study

By EDC Research Bureau,

The Downtown San Diego Partnership, together with the City of San Diego and San Diego Regional EDC released the findings from the 2021 Downtown Demographics Study. Among findings about Downtown’s residential population, workforce, and attractions, the study confirmed that Downtown is uniquely primed for a post-pandemic resurgence of residential and business growth due to several key factors.

“What we found most exciting about this research is that it confirmed through data what we’ve long heard from Downtown residents and stakeholders,” said Betsy Brennan, president & CEO for the Downtown San Diego Partnership. “Downtown is primed with a talented residential workforce that desires to live and work in our urban core. This, in combination with ongoing investment in world-class commercial and research spaces with access to the region’s enhanced transit system and a vibrant neighborhood lifestyle for residents, businesses and visitors alike, tells us that there is no better time to invest in Downtown.”

Authored by EDC, in coordination with UC San Diego Extension’s Center for Research and Evaluation, the update provides new data on the residential and workforce populations of San Diego’s urban core, identifies areas for growth, opportunities for investment and advocacy, as well as a benchmark for the impacts of COVID-19. It’s intent is to serve as a helpful tool for anyone hoping to understand Downtown’s unique makeup and continue to fuel decisions to advance the economic prosperity and cultural vitality of the city’s urban core for years to come.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Downtown’s residents are young, urban professionals primarily working in innovation industries and earning higher-than-average wages. The vibrancy of urban living is what they like about living Downtown and they would even prefer to work there if given the choice, though the cost of living remains higher in Downtown than the County at large.
  • Downtown’s over concentration of the most in-demand talent, combined with an increasing supply of commercial real estate, present timely opportunities for high growth companies – particularly Life Science and Technology companies securing record-breaking investment – who are seeking top talent surrounded by the amenities they desire.
  • Downtown’s legacy industry clusters are more vulnerable to economic downturns, making diversification advantageous. Job losses during 2020 erased the gains of the previous four years.
  • Downtown is widely viewed as a hub for arts and culture, as well as a top destination for professional networking and gathering.

“While San Diego’s innovation economy continues to drive the region’s recovery from the COVID-19-spurred economic downturn, we must ensure the building blocks of this recovering economy—quality jobs, skilled talent and thriving households—are accessible to more people,” said Mark Cafferty, president and CEO of EDC. “The data confirms that the pillars to build a more resilient economy through continued investment into Downtown by new, growing and diversified industries are in place and ready. More than ever, smart economic development means inclusive economic development.”

The Downtown Partnership first commissioned a demographic study in 2016, then a new tool for the organization’s advocacy efforts and the Downtown community. Providing an in-depth look at San Diego’s urban core and capturing a moment in time of the market’s recovery following the pandemic, the 2021 study was funded by the City of San Diego’s Economic Development Department, DSDP Clean & Safe Commercial Enhancement Program, Stockdale Capital Partners, and Urban Strategies Group.

Read the report