Economy
Change in Labor Force

Maintaining


Percent Change in Labor Force

What does this measure?

Growth or decline in the total number of people available for work, including currently employed individuals, unemployed individuals, and individuals able to work but not actively seeking work at the time.

Why is this important?

The size of the labor force is an indicator of people's willingness and ability to find work. In a period of rapid economic growth, a larger share of the population (including teens, second earners in a family, and elders) will find roles in the workforce. The statistic indicates the health of an economy, particularly when considered along with the unemployment rate, which measures the proportion of the workforce that lacks jobs, but is seeking work.

How does our county compare?

In 2021, there were 284,900 people in Lancaster County's labor force, a 0.2% decrease from the previous year. Lancaster County's labor force was larger than most neighboring counties, except Chester, which is slightly higher at 286,400. Between 2000 and 2021, Lancaster County's labor force increased by 13%, on par with the nation but larger than Pennsylvania's 5% increase. Of neighboring counties, Berks (8%) had the lowest growth rate while Chester (21%) had the highest. The other counties had growth rates similar to Lancaster.

In 2021, there were 27,400 people in the City of Lancaster labor force, a 1.9% decrease from the previous year, and 4% growth since 2000.

Notes about the data

County-level estimates are based on relatively small samples, and the true number may vary considerably from the estimate. Data for this indicator are released annually in April.

Percent Change in Labor Force
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Pennsylvania0.2%1.2%0.6%-0.9%0.9%0.7%0.7%0.8%1.5%-0.6%-0.6%0.3%1.1%-0.5%-0.5%0.5%0.6%0.4%0.4%1.0%-0.9%-1.1%0.5%
Lancaster County1.1%1.6%1.9%-1.1%2.7%1.3%-0.2%0.9%1.6%-1.6%-0.9%-0.6%1.2%0.4%1.0%1.4%0.8%1.2%1.5%1.1%-0.7%0.0%1.0%
Lancaster City3.0%0.8%1.1%-2.1%1.6%-0.3%-1.5%0.0%1.0%0.2%1.8%-1.2%0.6%-0.6%-0.5%0.4%0.1%1.1%0.7%0.4%2.5%-1.8%-1.4%
Berks County4.5%0.9%0.5%-2.7%1.5%1.6%1.3%0.9%1.5%-1.1%2.7%0.1%0.8%-0.3%0.1%0.9%0.5%0.4%0.5%1.3%-1.1%-1.5%0.5%
Chester County-1.9%2.3%1.5%0.5%1.4%2.4%2.7%1.4%2.4%-2.0%0.3%0.3%1.1%0.1%0.3%1.3%1.3%1.0%0.9%1.8%-1.6%0.8%2.1%
Cumberland County-7.5%1.6%1.9%-0.9%1.2%1.2%1.9%0.8%1.9%-0.5%-0.7%0.1%1.1%-0.1%0.4%1.9%1.5%0.8%0.7%1.7%-0.5%-0.6%1.6%
Dauphin County-6.8%1.0%1.4%-1.5%0.5%0.4%0.7%0.6%1.4%-0.5%2.2%0.0%0.5%-0.6%-0.6%1.3%0.9%1.0%0.5%1.3%0.6%-1.3%0.6%
Lebanon County-3.0%2.5%1.5%-0.3%3.2%1.9%1.4%1.3%1.5%-0.6%-4.0%-0.2%1.5%-0.4%-0.7%0.0%0.9%1.0%1.0%1.6%0.1%-0.3%0.3%
York County5.5%0.8%-0.1%-0.5%2.3%1.9%1.6%1.3%1.5%-0.9%1.3%0.2%1.1%-0.6%-0.4%1.0%1.1%0.7%0.3%0.7%-0.6%-0.3%0.8%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics




Total Labor Force
20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Pennsylvania6,105,7426,178,9006,214,5396,157,9356,212,8286,256,6426,297,9646,346,5886,439,7866,400,2386,360,6056,381,7496,449,0236,419,8376,389,0596,423,1556,458,8916,485,2536,509,7756,573,6166,514,5656,445,3626,479,077
Lancaster County251,341255,443260,217257,311264,382267,780267,175269,648274,034269,588267,222265,492268,700269,655272,259276,028278,301281,545285,747289,026286,983287,023290,028
Lancaster City26,40926,62126,92126,35026,76726,68826,30026,30026,57226,62627,11126,78626,93826,77426,64326,74926,76727,07127,26427,37028,06127,56527,180
Berks County195,243196,986197,993192,722195,670198,879201,450203,172206,125203,880209,477209,653211,336210,607210,765212,575213,539214,413215,545218,371216,006212,766213,839
Chester County236,560242,022245,764246,928250,457256,501263,433267,246273,712268,170268,853269,597272,533272,790273,533277,098280,797283,553286,243291,459286,697288,974295,146
Cumberland County114,152115,934118,094117,051118,428119,902122,172123,205125,594124,917124,102124,189125,534125,406125,954128,407130,295131,396132,262134,507133,770132,981135,057
Dauphin County131,699133,019134,908132,924133,571134,054135,023135,876137,831137,080140,162140,192140,870140,007139,179141,032142,301143,690144,447146,373147,271145,287146,107
Lebanon County64,34765,93166,92566,73068,88270,17071,18272,13973,22972,77469,85769,70970,77870,52170,05170,08170,69471,38772,11773,29373,36073,14873,390
York County209,589211,323211,123210,048214,949219,091222,524225,503228,801226,702229,698230,193232,731231,382230,353232,597235,081236,803237,403238,988237,579236,762238,732

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics




INDICATORS TREND
Prekindergarten Participation Increasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
Per-Student Spending Maintaining
Students Receiving Special Education Services Increasing
Rate of Foster Care Admissions Maintaining
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Plans of High School Graduates Not Applicable
Enrollment in Local Colleges Decreasing
College Graduation Rates Decreasing
Brain Drain/Gain Increasing
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Charitable Giving Maintaining
Voter Registration Rate Not Applicable
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Age of Housing Stock Not Applicable
Violent Crime Rate Maintaining
Incarceration Rate Decreasing
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population Density Increasing
Air Quality Decreasing
Water Use Decreasing
Waterways Impaired by Pollution Not Applicable
Change in Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age and Gender Not Applicable
Population by Age Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Employment by Sector Not Applicable
Sector Share of Total Jobs Not Applicable
Workers by Occupation Not Applicable
Change in Labor Force Maintaining
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 Increasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Employer Size Not Applicable
Change in Number of Businesses by Sector Increasing
Change in Total Agricultural Sales Increasing
Spending for Local Government Maintaining
Spending for School Districts Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty Decreasing
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Decreasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Veterans Living in Poverty Maintaining
Working Poor Decreasing
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Household Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Students Eligible for Free/Reduced Price Lunch Increasing
Median Home Value Maintaining
Occupied Housing Units Maintaining
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Rent Maintaining
Cost of Renting Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Health Status Decreasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Adults Who are Overweight or Obese Not Applicable
Mortality Rates Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Increasing
Fatal Drug Overdoses Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Households With Internet Access Increasing
High-Tech Jobs Increasing
STEM Graduates Increasing
Science and Engineering Research and Development Maintaining
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


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