Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have shared a similar fate in terms of population decline since reaching their peak levels in 1950, although the Pittsburgh decline has been somewhat larger in terms of actual count and percentage drop. Cincinnati saw population fall from 509,998 in 1950 to 364,553 in 1990, a loss of 28.5 percent. The city’s population fell further to 311,097 in 2023, a 33-year loss of 14.7 percent and total loss of 198,901 or 39 percent since 1950.
Over the same time periods, Pittsburgh saw its population fall from 676,806 in 1950 to 370,130 in 1990 or 45.3 percent. Population fell further to 303,255 in 2023 for a 33-year loss of 18.1 percent and a total population decline of 367,551 or 55.2 percent since 1950.
Household employment (city residents with jobs) has fallen in both cities since 1990 (the oldest data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Interestingly, while the 1990 populations were fairly close, Cincinnati had 164,998 residents employed compared to 156,538 in Pittsburgh. However, in 2023, Pittsburgh had 147,925 employed and Cincinnati 144,689. Still, Cincinnati had recovered and surpassed the 2019 pre-COVID level of 142,969 employed while Pittsburgh remained well below the 152,538 reading for 2019.
The home counties of Pittsburgh (Allegheny) and Cincinnati (Hamilton) have seen different population changes since 1950 and 2023. Both saw increases through 1970 and losses through 2023. Allegheny County’s population rose from 1.51 million to 1.60 million during the 20 years from 1950 to 1970 (6.7 percent), while Hamilton saw a rise from 718,800 to 923,900 (28.5 percent).
Allegheny County suffered a total decline from 1970 through 2023 of 380,300 residents (19.2 percent) to stand over 200,000 lower than 1950. Meanwhile, Hamilton County population fell by 96,000 over the 1970 to 2023 period (10.4 percent). Note, however, that in 2023, Hamilton County remained 15 percent above its 1950 level while Allegheny County was 18.8 percent below the 1950 reading.
In sum, both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh have sustained major population losses since 1950 and have seen significant declines in resident employment since 1990. Nonetheless, despite having a smaller population in 1990, Cincinnati had 8,500 more residents working than in Pittsburgh.
Note that the ratio of resident employment to population in Pittsburgh climbed sharply from 42.2 percent in 1990 to 48.8 percent in 2023. In Cincinnati, the ratio rose slightly from 45.3 to 46.5 percent. Clearly, there has been a significant difference in the changes in labor force participation between the two cities. It could be a result of age distribution effects or possibly different levels of employment opportunity available. Further study will be necessary to explain the difference in participation rate changes.
