As we continue looking at commuting characteristics, we will now review the share of workers that start driving to work before 7AM. Typically, since most workers in Hillsborough County live and work in Hillsborough County, an increase in the number of workers leaving before 7 AM suggests worsening traffic conditions.  This is the third of four blogs on commuting characteristics and trends. 

About the Data

The source data is from Table S0801 (Commuting Characteristics) from the American Community Surveys for the years 2014-2018 and 2019-2023. The original question was Question 34 of the survey (p. 16). It read as follows: “LAST WEEK, what time did this person’s trip to work usually begin?” The survey participant is asked to provide a specific time.

Key Takeaways

1. 1 in 3 Hillsborough County workers leaves home before 7AM. This share has not changed significantly since 2018.
2. Polk County has the highest share of workers leaving before 7AM (34.7%). This share has increased significantly since 2018.
3. In Tampa Bay Region, nearly 1 in 3 workers leave for work before 7AM
4. Statewide, most counties with high share of workers leaving before 7AM are rural counties and not in the Tampa Bay Region.  In Holmes County, 61% of workers leave before 7AM.
5. Within Hillsborough County, most areas with highest share of workers leaving before 7AM are in East Hillsborough and away from the urban cores.
6. Within Hillsborough County, nearly half of the areas saw increases in the share of workers leaving before 7AM.

Tampa Bay Region Counties – Workers Leaving before 7AM Trends

In 2023, in the Tampa Bay Region, nearly 1 in 3 workers left for work before 7AM. As seen in Table 1 and Figures 1a-1c, the share of workers leaving before 7AM ranged from 24.6% (Sarasota County) to 37.70% (Polk County) and averaged 31.51%. Since 2018, the share of workers leaving before 7AM decreased in 5 counties (i.e., Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota) and increased in 3 others (i.e., Hillsborough, Manatee, and Polk). In Polk County, we saw the largest increase in workers leaving before 7AM (12.20%). Alternatively, Sarasota County experienced the largest decline in workers leaving before 7AM (-3.15%). Hillsborough County’s share of workers leaving before 7AM matches the median for the Tampa Bay Region and is larger Florida’s share of workers leaving before 7AM (See Figure 1c).

Table 1.  Share of Workers leaving before 7AM

Geography	2013	2018	2023	2013-2018 Percent Change	2018-2023 Percent Change	2013-2023 Percent Change
Citrus	33.60%	34.80%	33.80%	3.57%	-2.87%	0.60%
Hernando	36.00%	35.10%	34.70%	-2.50%	-1.14%	-3.61%
Hillsborough	27.40%	31.30%	33.00%	14.23%	5.43%	20.44%
Manatee	26.40%	28.10%	28.30%	6.44%	0.71%	7.20%
Pasco	34.40%	34.80%	34.30%	1.16%	-1.44%	-0.29%
Pinellas	24.20%	26.20%	25.70%	8.26%	-1.91%	6.20%
Polk	33.20%	33.60%	37.70%	1.20%	12.20%	13.55%
Sarasota	21.40%	25.40%	24.60%	18.69%	-3.15%	14.95%
Tampa Bay Region Counties	30.30%	32.45%	33.40%	7.10%	2.93%	10.23%
Florida	27.70%	29.20%	29.90%	5.42%	2.40%	7.94%

Note:  Tampa Bay Region shares calculated as median of the shares of the 8 counties.

Figure 1a.  Share of Workers leaving before 7AM for Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, and Manatee Counties

Figure 1b.  Share of Workers leaving before 7AM for Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota Counties

Figure 1c.  Share of Workers that Work from Home for Hillsborough County, Tampa Bay Region, and Florida

Figure 1d.  Share of Workers Leaving before 7AM for Tampa Bay Region Counties

Florida Counties – Workers Leaving before 7AM

As seen in Figure 2, when compared to other Florida counties, none of the 8 Tampa Bay Region counties are amongst the top 10 counties with the highest share of workers leaving before 7 AM. These 10 counties with the highest share of workers leaving before 7AM are rural counties. Statewide, those shares ranged from 19.1% (Franklin County) to 61.3% (Holmes County) and averaged 36.6%. 

Figure 2.  Share of Workers leaving before 7AM for 67 Florida Counties

Hillsborough Census Tracts – Leaving before 7AM Trends

A Census Tract is a small geographic area within a County.  There are 335 Census Tracts in Hillsborough County. Most Census Tracts have a share of their workforce that works from home.  Those shares range from 0.1% (Census Tracts 43 in Downtown Tampa/West River) to 71.2% (Census Tract 139.07 in the Residential Planned-2 (RP-2) area in rural Southeast Hillsborough County) and average 31.89%. The 10 Census Tracts with the highest shares of workers leaving before 7AM are in East County, Gibsonton/Riverview, Little Manatee South, Plant City, RP-2, Seffner/Thonotosassa, South Tampa, and USF area.  (See Table 2 and Figures 3a and 3b). Most of the Census Tracts with highest shares of workers leaving before 7AM are outside the Urban Service Area (See Figure 4a).  Over half of the Census Tracts saw experienced increases in the share of workers leaving before 7AM since 2018 (Figure 4b).

Table 2.  10 Census Tracts with Highest Share of Workers Leaving before 7AM in 2023

Geography	Area	2013	2018	2023	2013-2018 Percent Change	2018-2023 Percent Change	2013-2023 Percent Change
Census Tract 65.04	South Tampa	8.80%	9.50%	57.80%	8.06%	508.14%	557.13%
Census Tract 108.15	USF	42.20%	39.30%	58.60%	-6.87%	49.11%	38.86%
Census Tract 108.21	USF	22.11%	24.16%	63.20%	9.26%	161.60%	185.82%
Census Tract 119.05	Riverside Heights/Egypt Lake	44.20%	34.40%	63.00%	-22.17%	83.14%	42.53%
Census Tract 121.10	Seffner/Thonotosassa	20.61%	18.96%	56.90%	-7.99%	200.07%	176.10%
Census Tract 127.01	Plant City	42.70%	38.00%	62.40%	-11.01%	64.21%	46.14%
Census Tract 131	East County	57.40%	55.80%	59.10%	-2.79%	5.91%	2.96%
Census Tract 139.07	RP-2	38.40%	51.80%	71.20%	34.90%	37.45%	85.42%
Census Tract 139.18	Gibsonton/Riverview	46.80%	39.80%	57.10%	-14.96%	43.47%	22.01%
Census Tract 140.02	Little Manatee South	45.60%	50.40%	62.80%	10.53%	24.60%	37.72%

Figure 3a.  5 of 10 Census Tracts with Highest Share of Workers Leaving before 7AM

Figure 3b.  5 of 10 Census Tracts with Highest Share of Workers Leaving before 7AM

Figure 4a.  Share of Workers leaving before 7AM by Census 2020 Tracts in Hillsborough County

Figure 4b.  2018-2023 Percent Change in Share of Workers leaving before 7AM by Census 2020 Tracts in Hillsborough County

Conclusion

We reviewed shares of workers leaving before 7AM from various American Community Surveys.  In the Tampa Bay Region, Pinellas and Sarasota Counties have the lowest share of workers leaving before 7AM. Polk County has highest share of workers leaving before 7AM. This share has increased significantly since 2018. Statewide, the counties with the highest share of workers that work in other counties are mostly rural and are not located in the Tampa Bay Region.  In Holmes County, the share of workers leaving before 7AM is 61%. Inside Hillsborough County, those areas with the highest share of workers leaving before 7AM are in East Hillsborough County and away from the urban core. Lastly, over half of the areas inside Hillsborough County saw increases in the share of workers leaving before 7AM.