Wayne County’s location in the northeast corner of the Commonwealth puts us at the leading edge of expansion from the NY/NJ metro areas, and provides the basis for an increasing labor supply with a commuting pattern that favors local development. 

From 2000 to 2009, the labor supply in the four-county NEPA region of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Lackawanna Counties increased by 13.1% compared to a growth of 5.4% within the Commonwealth as a whole.  In 2009, the civilian labor force in this region was 245,100, with Wayne County contributing 25,700 to the total. 

Although over three thousand (3,000) are being added to the NEPA regional labor supply annually, this constitutes only a portion of labor that is available when we look at commuting patterns.  The last census shows that neighboring Pike County, the 36th fastest-growing county in the U.S. (out of 3,155), had an average commute of 46 minutes, almost double the U.S. commuting time. In the NEPA region, nearly 25,000 indicted they were employed either outside their county or outside the Commonwealth.  Therefore, we have a supply of labor that potentially would prefer local employment, thereby reducing commuting time and resulting in an increased quality of life.  Moreover, when the labor force from nearby Sullivan and Orange Counties, NY, and Sussex County, NJ, is factored in, the available employment base rises to over 500,000. 

The region’s colleges and universities also do their part.  With approximately 6500 graduates each year, the labor supply is constantly rejuvenated with trained and talented individuals.

Click on the links below to view data tables, or visit our Data Center to include them in a customized report.

Contact Workforce Wayne for local workforce development information and resources.

Additional local and state resources.

Expanding Workforce

Civilian Labor Force - Employment and Unemployment Rate, Wayne County, PA 

Growing Labor Supply

 Civilian Labor Force Growth, Northeastern PA 

 Population Growth in Labor Market 

 Prime Workers, 2000 

Commuting Data

 Location of Labor Market Area Employment 

 Travel Time to Work