Shoge publishes Kent County economy report, calls for greater accountability on growth and jobs

24-page report compares Kent with neighboring counties and will inform the commissioner candidate’s priorities

Kent County commissioner candidate Sam Shoge has published a report on the Kent County economy that documents weak long-term growth and calls for a more direct public discussion about jobs, household opportunity, and county leadership.

The Kent County State of the Economy report finds that local economic output was lower in 2024 than in 2010 after inflation, while the county had fewer payroll jobs in 2025 than in 2000. Neighboring counties recorded substantial growth over those same periods.

“I wrote this report because residents deserve a clear account of how our economy is performing,” Shoge said. “When we make decisions about spending, housing, and infrastructure, we should understand the conditions families and businesses face and be able to explain what we expect those decisions to achieve.”

The 24-page publication draws on federal and Maryland records to examine employment, business locations, wages, housing, major industries, and the tax base. Written for a general audience, it includes explanations of the figures, linked sources, and a glossary.

Kent’s economic results differ sharply from its neighbors

According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Kent’s economic output declined 8.1% between 2010 and 2024 after inflation. Over the same period, output grew 47.4% in Cecil County, 38.2% in Queen Anne’s County, and 21.0% in Kent County, Delaware.

Economic output, measured as gross domestic product, describes the value of goods and services produced within a county. Removing inflation allows comparisons across years without counting higher prices as growth.

The employment figures show a similar pattern. Records from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Kent had 7,553 payroll jobs in 2025, compared with 7,690 in 2000, a decline of 1.8%. During that period, payroll employment grew 60.4% in Cecil, 51.9% in Queen Anne’s, and 41.4% in Kent County, Delaware.

These annual averages count full-time and part-time payroll positions rather than individual workers, and they exclude self-employment and some farm work.

Shoge selected the three comparison counties because each borders Kent County, Maryland. Their populations, industries, and policies differ, but their proximity provides useful context for assessing Kent’s results.

“In a business or nonprofit, a record like this would prompt a serious review of leadership decisions and strategy,” Shoge said. “County residents deserve the same attention to results, along with a clear explanation of what needs to change.”

Recognizing strengths while addressing weak growth

The report also identifies positive findings. Kent’s manufacturing output increased after inflation between 2010 and 2024, and average annual pay per payroll job rose faster than consumer prices over that period. Taxable income has grown, and recent migration has added residents.

Those gains coexist with limited overall growth in local jobs and production. The report does not attribute the county’s economic record to a single cause or department.

“Our businesses, workers, and institutions have achieved real successes, and those contributions deserve recognition,” Shoge said. “At the same time, we need to ask whether more residents can find good work, afford a home, and support a family here. Both deserve an honest assessment.”

Shoge said the findings will inform his priorities and, if elected, his decisions about county investments and services. He will present his proposed response separately, using the report as a shared factual basis for public discussion.

Residents are encouraged to read the report, examine its sources, and consider what the findings mean for Kent’s future. The publication is an independent analysis prepared for public discussion, not an official county report.