(Illustration by Idil Gözde)
The workforce of small-town Southwestern Pennsylvania
Facts about the jobs and industries fueling rural counties and their residents
Aug. 9, 2017
Greene County - Employment by industries
The above chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Greene County, Pa.
Compared to other U.S. counties, Greene County has an unusually high number of jobs in mining, quarrying, oil, gas extraction; utilities; and construction.
Employment in Greene County has been declining at a rate of 1.83 percent, from 15,002 employees in 2014 to 14,728 employees in 2015.
In 2016, the unemployment rate in Greene County was 7.8 percent compared to a 4.9 percent rate nationwide.
The median household income in the county was $46,661 in 2015, which represents a 0.38 percent growth from the previous year. That year, the poverty rate in the county was 13.9 percent compared to a 14.7 percent rate nationwide.
With a population of 37,938 people, Greene County is the 58th largest county in Pennsylvania.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Text was generated by a DATA USA analysis of the Census’ American Community Survey.)
Washington County - Employment by industries
The above chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Washington County, Pa.
Compared to other U.S. counties, Washington County has an unusually high number of jobs in mining, quarrying, oil, gas extraction; utilities; and construction.
Employment in Washington County has been growing at a rate of 0.78 percent, from 98,955 employees in 2014 to 99,731 employees in 2015.
In 2016, the unemployment rate in Washington County was 6.2 percent compared to a 4.9 percent rate nationwide.
The median household income was $56,450 in 2015, which represents a 2.04 percent growth from the previous year. That year, the poverty rate in the county was 10.4 percent compared to a 14.7 percent rate nationwide.
With a population of 208,226 people, Washington County is the 18th largest county in Pennsylvania.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Text was generated by a DATA USA analysis of the Census’ American Community Survey.)
Fayette County - Employment by industries
The above chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Fayette County, Pa.
Compared to other U.S. counties, Fayette County has an unusually high number of jobs in mining, quarrying, oil, gas extraction; utilities; and healthcare & social assistance.
Employment in the county has been growing at a rate of 0.06 percent, from 53,669 employees in 2014 to 53,700 employees in 2015.
In 2016, the unemployment rate in Fayette County was 8.2 percent compared to a 4.9 percent rate nationwide.
The median household income in Fayette County was $39,636 in 2015, which represents a 1.95 percent growth from the previous year. That year, the poverty rate in the county was 19.3 percent compared to a 14.7 percent rate nationwide.
With a population of 134,851 people, Fayette County is the 26th largest county in Pennsylvania.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Text was generated by a DATA USA analysis of the Census’ American Community Survey.)
Beaver County - Employment by industries
The above chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Beaver County, Pa.
Compared to other U.S. counties, Beaver County has an unusually high number of jobs in utilities; transportation & warehousing; and management of companies & enterprises.
Employment in the county has been growing at a rate of 1.22 percent, from 79,843 employees in 2014 to 80,816 employees in 2015.
In 2016, the unemployment rate was 6.3 percent compared to a 4.9 percent rate nationwide.
The median household income in Beaver County was $50,581 in 2015, which represents a 0.67 percent growth from the previous year. That year, the poverty rate in the county was 11.9 percent compared to a 14.7 percent rate nationwide.
With a population of 169,785 people, Beaver is the 20th largest county in Pennsylvania.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Text was generated by a DATA USA analysis of the Census’ American Community Survey.)
Westmoreland County - Employment by industries
The above chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Westmoreland County, Pa.
Compared to other counties, Westmoreland County has an unusually high number of of jobs in utilities; manufacturing; and wholesale trade.
Employment in the county has been declining at a rate of 2.07 percent, from 175,570 employees in 2014 to 171,930 employees in 2015.
In 2016, the unemployment rate was 5.9 percent compared to a 4.9 percent rate nationwide.
The median household income in Westmoreland County was $53,540 in 2015, which represents a 0.56 percent decline from the previous year. That year, the poverty rate in the county was 11.4 percent compared to a 14.7 percent rate nationwide.
With a population of 357,956 people, Westmoreland County is the 10th largest county in Pennsylvania.
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Text was generated by a DATA USA analysis of the Census’ American Community Survey.)
