Local economic efforts underway to fill the gap

Cambria County, PA — Economists in our area say older generations, including the baby boomers, are retiring throughout our region, which is creating a surplus of vacant job positions. This in part with the reportedly less populated younger generation, that would be faced with filling them.

“In the past three years, amplified by the pandemic we had an acceleration of retirements, and dropout of the labor force, which has really put a strain on a lot of our existing businesses.” says Stephen McKnight, with the Altoona-Blair County Development Corporation.

Amy Bradley, with the Cambria Regional Chamber of Commerce, says people leaving our region have played a factor as well. She explains what is being done to help.

“With the collapse of the steel industry many years ago, we were telling kids to leave town to get a job. Now we’re saying stay. There’s so many jobs available, and not all of them require a college education. There’s a lot of groups working together throughout our area trying to highlight the jobs that are available.” says Bradley.

Bradley also says she is seeing a 117% increase of those 65 and older starting to work again, even after the pandemic.

Marjorie eby, with p-a careerlink link says for someone to be classified as unemployed, they have to be 16 or older, and currently looking for a job. This excludes people who don't have a job, *and* are not searching.

“If they’re not looking for work, then they’re not really that would skew the numbers.” says Eby.

McKnight, says housing prices can be the attractor, to get more people to the area.

“Most of the folks that will be coming in to fill those, will be coming in from the outside. And so, that really makes housing a really critical part of this.” McKnight says.

Bradley also says people immigrating to our region from other states or countries, could help ease the workload.

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