VITAL STATISTICS

There's no N.H. mortgage/lending crisis
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  January 2008

SEACOAST VENTURES: The mortgage/lending crisis is the talk of the country. While it remains an issue of concern in this region, how do we differ from the national trend?
PETER FRANCESE: There is NO "mortgage/lending crisis" in New Hampshire. I can't emphasize that strongly enough. During 2007 fewer than 2,000 homes in our state were in any stage of foreclosure. While each one of them is extremely unfortunate for the individuals involved, those homes represent less than one half of one percent of all homeowners statewide.

Housing, oil costs dominate year in review
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  December 2007

SEACOAST VENTURES: From a demographer's point of view, what were some of the highlights and low lights of 2007?
PETER FRANCESE: One highlight was the increased awareness on the Seacoast of the importance of work-force housing and its connection to the economic health of this region. The groundwork has now been done so that our civic leaders can discuss what steps need to be done to provide more affordable housing next year and in the future. The lowest light, in my view, is that some folks still want to age restrict any new housing to exclude families with kids, despite falling school enrollments. I am deeply concerned about the negative attitudes towards children.

The New England advantage
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  November 2007

SEACOAST VENTURES: The Northeast has its challenges for businesses of all sizes, such as energy costs. What are some of the reasons this region is home to entrepreneurs?
PETER FRANCESE: I think energy costs are far less important today for most employers since only a small percentage of them are in energy-intensive industries such as manufacturing. The main reason this region is so attractive to entrepreneurs is because we have had a better-educated work force. New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts are among 10 states with the highest percentage of working people with a college degree. In today's global and information-rich economy, it is the ability to find and hire technically skilled people that will make the difference between success and failure.

Striking a balance
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  October 2007

Seacoast Ventures: The work force, like the region as a whole, is graying. How can states retain existing workers and recruit additional labor to sustain a competitive edge?
PETER FRANCESE: A demographically balanced work force — one that has sufficient workers in all age categories — is absolutely necessary for sustaining economic growth. The way that any state can retain and recruit workers and achieve that balance is first by assuring that they have access to high quality education at the state's colleges and universities as well as public K-12 schools. The state must also assure that there is an adequate supply of affordable work force housing.

Increase in seniors could be bad for business
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  September 2007

SEACOAST VENTURES: How is the older demographic affecting the way medicine or medical care is delivered?
PETER FRANCESE: Since the 2000 census the total population in the Seacoast areas of Maine and New Hampshire has increased between 7 percent and 8 percent, or roughly 1 percent per year. The number of residents under age 45, however, has actually declined on the Seacoast. But the area's older population is rising fast: ages 55 to 64 have jumped 46 percent and residents 65 and older have increased 14 percent. The extraordinary increase in residents in their late 50s and early 60s means even higher growth over the next decade among residents ages 65 or older.

Success by degrees
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  July 2007

SEACOAST VENTURES: How has biotechnology emerged as an economic factor or powerhouse in the Northeast?
PETER FRANCESE: It’s because of our high levels of educational attainment and presence of so many major universities. Seven of the top 10 states in terms of percent of adults with advanced degrees are Northeastern states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island. Massachusetts ranks first and New Hampshire ranks ninth in the nation in that key measure of high-tech skills.

Small businesses think big in NH
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  June 2007

SEACOAST VENTURES: Small business is the backbone of our economy, we are constantly reminded. How dependent are we on small businesses?
PETER FRANCESE: It's hard to overstate the importance of small businesses to New Hampshire's economy. There's a little more than 30,000 firms in New Hampshire that employ fewer than 20 people each, but they are 87 percent of all firms with employees. However, that doesn't count those small, one-person operations that have no paid employees. There's more than 100,000 of those micro-enterprises in our state, as they are often described, and they are growing at more than 3 percent per year.

Both sides now
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  May 2007

Seacoast Ventures: How important is tourism to the region's economy?
Peter Francese: It is extremely important. Tourists spend a lot in restaurants, shops, hotels. They are quite important to the retailers in downtown Portsmouth. Finally, tourism is important as buyers of second homes. Keep in mind we are third in the nation in the percent of dwellings that are second homes, which is important to the real estate industry. Tourism is quite important to the fishing and boating industry as well.

New Hampshire real estate strong
By Dan Tuohy
Published:  April 2007

Seacoast Ventures: What role does public perception play in the ups and downs of the real estate market?
Peter Francese: Public perception, also known as consumer psychology, is very important in the sale of residential real estate. If the public perceives, for example, that the price of homes is going to rise in the future then potential home buyers are more likely to buy now rather than wait for a lower price.

Demographic trends favor women
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  March 2007

SV: What are the overall trends for women business owners and leaders on the Seacoast?
Francese: Overall trends are very positive for women in the Seacoast. Right now women are almost half of the entire labor force, at about 47 percent, but they are a slightly over half of professional workers at 51 percent.

Let technology serve customers
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  February 2007

SV: What is attracting technology companies to this area and do you think this trend will continue?
Francese: It's comparatively inexpensive to get office space at Pease; there is a favorable tax structure in our state and, until recently, a readily available workforce. This is also a great place to live in terms of outdoor recreation and other quality of life factors.

Boomers' booming finances
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  January 2007

SV: How will demographic trends influence the banking and financial services industries?
Francese: The largest 10-year age group in Rockingham County and New Hampshire are people 45 to 54 years old. They represent a quarter of all adults and that is way up from the past. Fifteen years ago they were, at most, one out of six.

A look at the trends for the year ahead
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  December 2006

Job growth in the state is not that great right now. According to the Boston Federal Reserve there has been virtually no meaningful change in the private sector workforce in New Hampshire for the past six months.

Older and younger shoppers will set retail trends
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  October 2006

Boomers will be buying pets, personal care products and second home furniture; kids will go for the clothes

Getting good workers will be hard and expensive
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  September 2006

Peter Francese, director of Demographic Forecasts for the New England Economic Partnership looks at what the demographic data may suggest about the Seacoast area job market in the coming years.

Think training skills
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  August 2006

Peter Francese, director of Demographic Forecasts for the New England Economic Partnership looks at how the education and training need of workers changed over the past 10 years.

Older travelers present a world of opportunity
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  May 2006

Peter Francese, director of Demographic Forecasts for the New England Economic Partnership looks at the effects of older travelers on the Seacoast tourism industry.

Demographic dangers lurk in health care costs
By Howard Altschiller
Published:  April 2006

A monthly chat with Peter Francese, director of Demographic Forecasts for the New England Economic Partnership.