Industry Clusters

An industry cluster is defined as a concentration of companies and industries in a geographic region that are interconnected by the markets they serve and the products they produce, as well as their suppliers, trade associations and educational institutions.

CPWDC routinely analyzes industry clusters prevalent within Central Pennsylvania as compared to state and national trends. Through this process of research, consensus building and validation, the following industry clusters have been identified in Central Pennsylvania:

• Diversified Manufacturing
• Education
• Energy
• Health Care
• Lumber and Wood Products

CPWDC continues to focus its efforts on fully integrating industry cluster information into county and regional planning efforts and has been instrumental in helping the region by:

• Encouraging the creation of industry-led partnerships to identify common needs and appropriate strategies.
• Identifying demand occupations, essential skill-sets and training required by these industries today and in the future.
• Providing the information needed in Central Pennsylvania to align workforce, economic development and educational resources in a manner that will allow for the maximum positive impact to retain and grow existing industry and to attract new opportunity.
• Offering the opportunity to engage the K-12 system, including Career and Technical Centers, by forecasting the region’s key industries and the demand occupations of the future and communicating this information to parents, students and educators.
• Allowing for more strategic targeting of private and public funds toward investment to provide the highest possible return for the region.

The economic characteristics of the four targeted industry clusters in Central Pennsylvania are described in the following documents. Data is displayed regionally and by county in the “Industry Cluster Profiles by County”.

Industry Cluster Initiative Overview – defines the concept of industry clusters and how the CPWDC is using industry cluster data.

2006 Annual Industry Cluster Update – examines cluster statistics, top five employing industries, job volume by county, the five most common occupations in each cluster and their related annual wages and competitive industries by national location quotient.

Long-Term Industry Employment Projections Analysis (2004-2014) – examines how employment within certain industries is expected to change by 2014.

Industry Cluster Profiles by County (2006) – analyzes the targeted industry clusters by county within the Central Region, including employment, employer units, top industries according to national location quotient values and top occupations based on staffing patterns.

Industry Cluster Trend Analysis (2005) – demonstrates how the employment, employer units, ages and location quotient values have changed over time for the region’s targeted industry clusters.