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HUD Section 3 Funding Dashboard

Select a county via map click or dropdown menus, then adjust the funding scenario to view estimated employment impacts and results.

FTE Calculation Inputs

Enter your custom values to calculate Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) supported by Section 3 funding.

Formula: FTEs = (Funding Amount × Section 3 % × Labor Cost %) / Average Annual Pay

Unemployment Impact Inputs

Enter local labor market data to project the unemployment rate impact.

Formula: New Rate = (Current Unemployed - FTEs × % to Unemployed) / Labor Force

Employment Impact Results
FTEs Supported
Full-time equivalent jobs supported by this funding scenario
Labor Dollars Allocated
Unemployment Impact Results
Current Unemployment Rate
Projected Unemployment Rate
Theoretical rate after Section 3 job creation
Projected Change

What is Section 3?

Every year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) invests billions of federal dollars into communities across the country for projects that provide access to safe and affordable housing and improve public infrastructure.

Section 3 is a provision ( eCFR :: 24 CFR Part 75 -- Economic Opportunities for Low- and Very Low-Income Persons ) of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 that applies to all public housing financial assistance and housing rehabilitation, housing construction, and other public construction projects when the Housing and Community Development financial assistance exceeds $200,000. Section 3 requires these projects to provide economic opportunities, such as job training, employment, and contracts, to be directed to Section 3 workers, who can be one of the following:

  • Income is below the limit set by HUD
  • Employed by a Section 3 Business Concern
  • A YouthBuild Participant

For more Section 3 tools and resources please visit: Section 3 - HUD Exchange

Tool Description

This analysis translates a HUD Section 3 funding scenario into an estimate of how many full-time-equivalent jobs the investment could support locally, based on assumptions about what share of the funding goes to Section 3 eligible work, how much of that is labor cost, and typical wages in the selected industry.

It then shows what that job estimate could mean at a local level—such as the scale of local hiring activity and the potential effect on the local unemployment rate if those jobs were filled by currently unemployed residents. Because the results depend on scenario inputs, they are best used to compare “what-if” choices (e.g., different funding levels, labor shares, or wages) rather than as a guarantee of hiring outcomes. In practice, actual impacts will vary based on project timing, employer hiring practices, workforce availability, and broader economic conditions.

Analysis Components

  • FTE Estimation: Calculates full-time equivalent jobs supported using the formula: FTEs = (Funding Amount × Section 3 % × Labor Cost %) / Average Annual Pay. This estimates direct employment impact based on your funding scenario and selected industry wage data.
  • Unemployment Impact: Projects changes to county unemployment rates using: New Unemployment Rate = (Current Unemployed - FTEs from Unemployed) / Labor Force. This calculation assumes a specified percentage of created jobs are filled by currently unemployed workers in the county.
  • Industry Analysis: Examines employment levels and average annual earnings across 8 NAICS industry categories relevant to Section 3 activities (construction, real estate, professional services, etc.), showing historical trends and industry-specific wage data.
  • Geographic Context: Interactive county-level map with multiple thematic layers (population density, labor force, unemployment) allowing visual exploration of demographic and economic conditions across all U.S. counties.

Data Sources

  • U.S. Census Bureau - American Community Survey (ACS): County-level demographic data including population, civilian labor force, and employment statistics (5-year estimates)
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - LAUS: Local Area Unemployment Statistics providing monthly unemployment data at the county level
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) - QCEW: Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data for employment levels and average annual pay by industry (NAICS codes)
  • TIGRIS: County boundary geometries for map visualization (U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files)

Industries Analyzed

  • Construction of Buildings (NAICS 236)
  • Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (NAICS 237)
  • Specialty Trade Contractors (NAICS 238)
  • Real Estate (NAICS 531)
  • Rental and Leasing Services (NAICS 532)
  • Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (NAICS 541)
  • Administrative and Support Services (NAICS 561)
  • Waste Management and Remediation Services (NAICS 562)

Note: This tool provides theoretical estimates for planning purposes. Actual employment impacts will vary based on local economic conditions, project implementation, and workforce availability.

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