Northeastern Pennsylvania -
The manufacturing sector is one of the largest industries in Northeastern Pennsylvania, employing more than 31,000 workers across Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and Wyoming counties.
An analysis of recent data by The Institute reveals an industry with several strengths and challenges, including a deep labor pool, modest job growth, and lower-than-national-average earnings.
“NEPA manufacturing companies employ 31,500 manufacturing workers, far exceeding the national average of 21,888 for an area of similar size,” said Jill Avery-Stoss, President and CEO of The Institute. “This supply of jobs has increased 13% since 2020, and it is projected to grow another 4% by 2030.”
Despite this strong labor supply, earnings per job average $83,801, which falls below the national benchmark.
In the four-county region, 421 companies posted 3,962 unique job openings in manufacturing during the past year.
Avery-Stoss said the most in-demand manufacturing roles in Northeast Pennsylvania include maintenance technician, machine operator, production operator, material handler, and forklift operator. Production occupations dominate the sector, accounting for 51.8% of all industry jobs, followed by transportation and material moving roles at 12.2%.
Avery-Stoss said the most in-demand skills employers are seeking include experience in packaging and labeling, continuous improvement processes, warehousing, forklift operation, housekeeping, machinery operation, lifting ability, auditing, good manufacturing practices, SAP applications, and environmental health and safety. These trends point toward ongoing automation, regulatory, and process‑efficiency initiatives within the sector.
“Retirement risk in the manufacturing sector locally is similar to national levels, with 9,603 manufacturing workers currently aged 55 and older,” notes Avery-Stoss. “The manufacturing industry workforce skews older overall, with nearly half of all employees aged 45 or older. As more workers retire, hiring their replacements could become a challenge.”
Avery-Stoss said the economic impact of the manufacturing sector is significant in NEPA. She said the manufacturing industry contributed $4.7 billion to the 2025 Gross Regional Product, including $2.7 billion in earnings and nearly $200 million in tax contributions.
Key in‑region and imported purchases reflect strong ties to plastics, animal production, iron and steel manufacturing, and corporate management services.
Avery-Stoss said the manufacturing sector is a key piece of Northeast Pennsylvania’s economy — one with considerable strength, as well as emerging challenges.
“A large and experienced workforce continues to anchor the industry, but looming retirements, below‑average earnings, and changing skill needs present challenges that will need to be addressed,” Avery-Stoss said. “As the industry adapts to technological change and shifting labor dynamics, deliberate efforts to strengthen training pipelines, retain talent, and raise competitiveness will be essential to sustaining the sector’s long‑term success in NEPA.”
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