‘On the Farm’ Agriculture Workforce

Fourth Economy developed a methodology to better understand the workforce directly involved in ‘on the farm’ agriculture in Lancaster County, including seasonal and annual hired farmworkers (U.S. citizens, foreign, and undocumented workers). We created a methodology to inform future data collection and analysis, along with an explanation of data sources at the local, state, and national levels. The report detailed trends in the local agricultural workforce, informed by data findings and insights from interviews with farmers, agricultural support organizations, and academics.

The future of the Manufacturing Workforce

Fourth Economy examined the occupational profile and workforce demographics of the manufacturing workforce in the 5-county region, as well as projections of industry growth and labor demand. We found that while the region’s population is growing, it is aging, increasing competition for a shrinking pool of talent entering manufacturing. The region’s manufacturing sector has been growing slowly, with a shift from larger, declining sectors to smaller, growing sectors that are offsetting other industry losses.

Better Understanding the Workforce Development System

To establish more effective workforce development strategies, the EDC and its partner, the Steinman Foundation, sought a clear understanding of public workforce funding in the County, which organizations administered programs, and the funding’s impact. Fourth Economy reviewed federal audit information, IRS Form 990 data, and conducted interviews with state agencies and local stakeholders to develop a clear picture of the workforce development system. We prioritized state and federal funding streams comprising about 80% of total County funding. For each, the final report describes the program’s stated goal, target population, type of training supported, funding recipients, and, when available, program outcomes. The STEM Alliance utilized our findings to facilitate a series of conversations in the County about the state of the workforce development system, and to rally stakeholders to develop a shared and strategic approach to serving the County’s unemployed and under-employed.