What does this measure?

The number of employed people living in Berks County divided by the population of 16- to 64-year-olds.

Why is this important?

A companion to the better-known unemployment rate, the employment-to-population ratio 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 a role in the workforce.

How is our county performing?

The employment-to-population ratio for Berks County was 77% in 2017, slightly higher than Pennsylvania, at 76%, and the nation, at 60%. Between 2000 and 2017, the county's ratio peaked at 80% in 2000 and dropped as low as 73% in 2009. As of 2017, Berks County's employment-to-population ratio was similar to neighboring Lehigh and Lebanon (both 78%), but lower than Montgomery (83%), Chester (81%) and Lancaster (80%). Schuylkill was lower, at 75%.

Over the 18-year period, several of the neighboring counties averaged higher employment-to-population ratios than Berks (77%), including Chester and Lancaster (both 81%), Lebanon and Montgomery (both 82%). The average ratio was similar to Berks in Lehigh (78%) and Schuylkill (76%).

Notes about the data

For this indicator, people are counted where they live, not where they work. To calculate these rates, CGR used figures for the population from ages 16 to 64 not living in institutions (including jails, prisons, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes and boarding schools) from the 2000 Census and American Community Survey. CGR interpolated the intervening years.

There may be additional research available on this topic. Click on Reports and Resources to learn more.