Workforce
Superior workforce for business success.
The local workforce is a big part of any business location decision. Find out more about our leading occupations, average salary data, and strengths of employees in the Greater Reading region.
Evaluating a region's workforce potential is critical. Factors such as access, experience, education, work ethic, and labor costs will impact results.
With more than 3 million adults within a 45-mile radius of Reading, the adult population offers a workforce with broad access to workers of various ages.
Industry Element
The top 10 employing industries, based on employee residency, strongly support manufacturing, health care, retail, educational and professional scientific and technical services.
| Industry |
30-Mile Radius |
45-Mile Radius |
| Manufacturing |
144,267 |
309,939 |
| Health care and social assistance |
74,910 |
194,024 |
| Retail Trade |
78,498 |
192,837 |
| Educational services |
46,027 |
134,133 |
| Professional scientific & technical services |
32,273 |
105,664 |
| Construction |
43,312 |
101,252 |
| Finance and insurance |
32,008 |
92,501 |
| Accommodation and food services |
31,480 |
77,920 |
| Other services (except public administration) |
32,020 |
75,538 |
| Wholesale trade |
26,722 |
64,213 |
Source: Berks County Workforce Investment Board
Trade and Professional Workers
At the 30-mile radius, approximately 41% of all workers are employed in trade occupations and 59% are employed in professional occupations, demonstrating the diverse workforce pool surrounding Greater Reading.
The top 5 occupations in each category are shown in the charts below.
Education and Workforce Training
With five colleges - Albright, Alvernia, Kutztown University, Penn State-Berks, and Reading Area Community College - and over 4,000 students graduating each year, the academic community works hand in hand with local business leaders to ensure that students develop the skills necessary to meet today and tomorrow's business needs.
Educational attainment levels within a 45-mile radius meet or exceed that of US levels, providing access to a solid workforce.
Workforce Development and Readiness
Wall Street West
Greater Reading is part of the Northeast Pennsylvania Wall Street West Initiative which is a partnership of more than two-dozen local, regional and state workforce development organizations, economic development agencies, technology investment groups, educational and research institutions, and private sector experts. Through 2010, the initiative has funds available for organizations seeking to train new and incumbent workers in the information technology and service industries. For more information about Wall Street West, go to http://www.wallstreetwest.org/.
Reading Area Community College - Schmidt Training & Technology Center
Reading Area Community College's (RACC) innovative training and technology center is providing businesses and industries in southeastern Pennsylvania with quality training for workforce performance and growth.
The center houses four training labs dedicated to teaching adults all aspects of manufacturing technology - basic electricity, electronic controls, mechanical systems and computer-integrated manufacturing - via an instructional strategy that blends interactive computer instruction with hands-on troubleshooting on equipment used in manufacturing today. One of the key advantages noted by client companies and the employees they have sent for training at the Schmidt Center is the flexible schedule. Because the manufacturing technology training is self-paced, students can come in any time a lab is open.
In the information technology arena, the Schmidt Training and Technology Center offers training in a wide range of computer applications including the Microsoft Office Suite, MS Project, and Master CAM. The hardware lab presents courses in PC maintenance and repair, networking technology, wireless communications and Voice-Over Internet Protocol.
Programs are also available in workforce readiness and leadership development, with workshops on effective communication skills, project management and methods to reduce waste and improve the productivity of your business.
In 2006-07, Reading Area Community College provided training to 1,600 students through its various workforce development programs. The majority of these students are currently employed with local companies and seeking to improve their skills.
Being involved with local, regional and state workforce and economic development activities, Reading Area Community College is tuned in to various opportunities for companies to get assistance with their training programs. RACC helps companies use Workforce and Economic Development Network (WEDnetPA), which provides funding for training in basic skills as well as advanced technology. Last year, RACC helped 50 area companies obtain more than $500,000 in WEDnetPA funds to train employees. Other sources of funding used to help area businesses improve their workforce skills include an industrial maintenance training grant, a plastics training grant, and a customized job based training grant.
Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry Training Programs
The Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry offers a comprehensive training program for local businesses. From small retail stores to large manufacturers, the Chamber provides customized training in a variety of formats to help enhance productivity and performance. Click here to find out more about the Chamber's innovative programs.
Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ)
The Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry administers the KIZ program. This program offers companies the opportunity to become an integral part of the knowledge community-a community that is dedicated to commercializing new technology. There are substantial economic incentives for those organizations located in the KIZ, including tax credits beginning in 2006 that will make $25 million per year available for KIZ companies less than eight years old. Also, companies within a KIZ are offered technical assistance and capacity building, and they receive "priority reviews" for a variety of state financing, job training and investment programs.
Manufacturers Resource Center
The Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) is a valuable training resource for manufacturing companies. MRC offers a course schedule that focuses on Six Sigma principles, workplace organization, and lean manufacturing. To learn more about MRC training programs, click here.