Economy
Change in Labor Force

Decreasing


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 2024, there were 292,100 people in Lancaster County's labor force, a 0.1% decrease from the previous year. Lancaster County's labor force was larger than most neighboring counties, except Chester, which is slightly higher, at 302,400. Between 2000 and 2024, Lancaster County's labor force increased by 16%, slightly lower than the nation (18%) but twice as large as Pennsylvania's 8% increase. Of neighboring counties, Berks (12%) had the lowest growth rate, while Chester (28%) had the highest, followed by Cumberland (23%). The other counties had growth rates ranging from 13%-15%.

In 2024, there were 29,900 people in the City of Lancaster labor force, a 0.3% decrease from the previous year, and 13% 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
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Pennsylvania0.3%1.3%0.6%-0.9%1.0%0.8%0.7%0.9%1.6%-0.8%-1.1%0.4%1.2%-0.3%-0.3%0.7%0.7%-0.4%0.3%0.9%-1.1%-1.2%0.7%1.4%0.2%
Lancaster County1.3%1.7%1.9%-1.1%2.8%1.4%-0.1%1.0%1.7%-1.8%-1.3%-0.6%1.4%0.5%1.2%1.6%0.6%0.2%1.5%1.1%-0.9%-0.0%1.2%1.3%-0.1%
Lancaster City3.1%0.9%1.2%-2.1%1.7%-0.2%-1.4%0.1%1.1%0.1%1.3%-1.2%0.7%-0.4%-0.3%0.6%12.4%-0.3%0.7%0.5%1.4%-2.4%-1.5%0.5%-0.3%
Berks County4.7%1.0%0.6%-2.7%1.6%1.7%1.4%1.0%1.6%-1.2%2.2%0.1%1.0%-0.2%0.3%1.1%1.2%-0.5%0.4%1.3%-1.3%-1.6%1.0%1.7%0.1%
Chester County-1.8%2.4%1.6%0.5%1.5%2.5%2.8%1.5%2.5%-2.2%-0.2%0.3%1.3%0.3%0.5%1.5%1.3%0.1%0.8%1.6%-2.1%1.2%3.2%2.0%0.0%
Cumberland County-7.4%1.7%1.9%-0.9%1.3%1.3%2.0%0.9%2.0%-0.7%-1.1%0.1%1.2%0.1%0.6%2.2%1.3%0.1%0.8%1.6%-0.8%0.3%2.4%2.2%0.7%
Dauphin County-6.6%1.1%1.5%-1.5%0.6%0.5%0.8%0.7%1.5%-0.7%1.8%0.1%0.6%-0.4%-0.4%1.5%2.0%0.0%0.4%1.5%0.4%-1.8%0.3%1.7%0.6%
Lebanon County-2.9%2.6%1.6%-0.3%3.3%2.0%1.5%1.4%1.6%-0.8%-4.5%-0.2%1.7%-0.2%-0.5%0.2%-2.1%0.0%1.2%1.6%-0.1%-0.4%0.6%3.1%0.4%
York County5.6%0.9%-0.0%-0.5%2.4%2.0%1.6%1.4%1.6%-1.1%0.8%0.3%1.3%-0.4%-0.2%1.2%0.0%-0.1%0.1%0.7%-0.7%-0.5%1.2%1.5%0.2%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics




Total Labor Force
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Pennsylvania6,108,1746,188,7926,228,4406,171,8696,232,5466,282,1626,328,8446,384,0946,484,0866,434,1666,363,0816,386,7836,463,8896,446,2186,428,6606,476,2506,521,6276,494,1336,512,7706,573,5656,500,7776,424,7866,471,1726,561,1366,576,760
Lancaster County251,436255,830260,802257,896265,236268,873268,477271,212275,901271,002267,345265,724269,361270,794273,932278,296280,063280,738284,859287,916285,363285,250288,709292,333292,143
Lancaster City26,41926,66426,98126,40926,85126,79826,42926,45826,75726,77127,11726,80326,99426,87926,81026,97230,31530,22030,44330,59531,02330,27329,80629,96129,885
Berks County195,319197,301198,434193,159196,291199,689202,436204,369207,545204,970209,557209,821211,829211,476212,068214,329216,981215,988216,867219,641216,768213,244215,434219,027219,283
Chester County236,650242,389246,315247,490251,266257,547264,715268,788275,571269,562269,002269,856273,231273,958275,207279,369282,969283,295285,619290,197284,079287,426296,578302,383302,436
Cumberland County114,197116,112118,358117,316118,810120,391122,766123,917126,449125,567124,165124,302125,848125,939126,727129,461131,108131,212132,249134,356133,335133,772136,929139,987140,940
Dauphin County131,751133,227135,210133,226133,998134,601135,683136,672138,774137,800140,220140,306141,200140,589140,039142,193145,074145,126145,640147,874148,446145,711146,219148,641149,590
Lebanon County64,37266,03167,07666,88269,10470,45771,52872,55973,72773,15469,88969,76970,95170,81770,48270,65869,19369,19970,00171,08771,02270,74171,13573,32373,609
York County209,670211,655211,595210,526215,637219,984223,611226,821230,367227,905229,789230,383233,280232,345231,778234,516234,589234,290234,592236,178234,464233,394236,138239,751240,245

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 Decreasing
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 Decreasing
Population Density Increasing
Air Quality Increasing
Water Use Maintaining
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 Increasing
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs Maintaining
Change in Employment by Sector Not Applicable
Sector Share of Total Jobs Increasing
Workers by Occupation Not Applicable
Change in Labor Force Decreasing
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Since 2010 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 Increasing
Working Poor Maintaining
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Below ALICE Threshold Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Stable Household Budget Cost 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 Increasing
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Rent Maintaining
Cost of Renting Decreasing
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
Rate of Depression Diagnosis 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
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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