The proportion of workers who came into or left a region for work during the year.
The flow of commuters into and out of a region is an indicator of its economic vitality and ability to draw in employers and employees from surrounding areas. It also may reflect transportation options available to workers in a county and the match between the skills of the residents and the local jobs available.
In 2018, 45% of Berks County residents commuted outside the county for work, up 10 percentage points since 2002. This was a smaller proportion of residents than in neighboring Chester (57%), Lebanon (63%), Lehigh (49%), Montgomery (53%) and Schuylkill (57%) counties, but larger than Lancaster County (34%). Also in 2018, 39% of people who worked in Berks County had traveled there from another county, an increase of 6 percentage points since 2002. This was a smaller percentage than every neighboring county except Lancaster (32%).
In the City of Reading, 86% of residents commuted outside the city for work in 2018, a rise of 10 percentage points since 2002. Also in 2018, 80% of workers in the city had traveled there from elsewhere, which aside from a brief dip (to 77%) in 2005 and 2006, is essentially unchanged since 2002.
This analysis is conducted for workers' primary jobs. Out-of-state residents are included. The percentage of workers leaving the county is calculated out of all residents who work. The percentage of workers entering the county is calculated out of all workers employed within the county. Data for this indicator are released annually in the third quarter.
There may be additional research available on this topic. Click on Reports and Resources to learn more.
Entering | Leaving | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 6% | 7% |
Berks County | 39% | 45% |
Berks County Regions | ||
Central | ||
Northeast | ||
South | ||
Southeast | ||
West | ||
Reading city | 80% | 86% |
Berks County Peers | ||
Chester County | 58% | 57% |
Lancaster County | 32% | 34% |
Lebanon County | 49% | 63% |
Lehigh County | 56% | 49% |
Montgomery County | 62% | 53% |
Schuylkill County | 44% | 57% |
Entering | Leaving | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 299,695 | 357,907 |
Berks County | 58,717 | 76,013 |
Berks County Regions | ||
Central | ||
Northeast | ||
South | ||
Southeast | ||
West | ||
Reading city | 17,972 | 27,414 |
Berks County Peers | ||
Chester County | 126,743 | 124,558 |
Lancaster County | 68,745 | 74,161 |
Lebanon County | 19,605 | 34,641 |
Lehigh County | 96,954 | 72,301 |
Montgomery County | 284,274 | 191,135 |
Schuylkill County | 18,270 | 29,943 |
Entering | Leaving | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 4% | 5% |
Berks County | 33% | 35% |
Berks County Regions | ||
Central | ||
Northeast | ||
South | ||
Southeast | ||
West | ||
Reading city | 83% | 76% |
Berks County Peers | ||
Chester County | 53% | 47% |
Lancaster County | 24% | 23% |
Lebanon County | 35% | 56% |
Lehigh County | 48% | 39% |
Montgomery County | 56% | 46% |
Schuylkill County | 29% | 48% |
Entering | Leaving | |
---|---|---|
Pennsylvania | 170,612 | 236,643 |
Berks County | 44,304 | 48,990 |
Berks County Regions | ||
Central | ||
Northeast | ||
South | ||
Southeast | ||
West | ||
Reading city | 22,857 | 15,160 |
Berks County Peers | ||
Chester County | 97,495 | 76,194 |
Lancaster County | 45,894 | 44,658 |
Lebanon County | 11,803 | 27,504 |
Lehigh County | 68,801 | 46,854 |
Montgomery County | 223,684 | 148,359 |
Schuylkill County | 10,902 | 24,959 |
INDICATORS | TREND | BERKS COUNTY |
---|---|
Unemployment Rate | ![]() |
Change in Labor Force | ![]() |
Employment to Population ratio | ![]() |
Change in Jobs by Sector | Not Applicable |
Sector Share of Total Jobs | Not Applicable |
Average Salary by Sector | Not Applicable |
Change in Average Salary by Sector | Not Applicable |
People Entering/Leaving County/Region for Work | Not Applicable |
Public Assistance | ![]() |
Spending for Local Governments | ![]() |
Spending for Counties | ![]() |
Spending for School Districts | ![]() |