Pennsylvania Election Process Resources
This package of materials was developed to be used by counties to help inform and engage the public in the process of elections. Consider utilizing and sharing the quick guide and related social media and print materials to help spread the word! Developed by the County Commissioners Association in Partnership with Penn State Extension and Penn State’s Center for Economic and Community Development
A quick guide for understanding election administration, election security, poll workers, primary election, and voting for the first time in Pennsylvania
ZIP Archive
Downloadable GIFs, infographics and story slides for social media and public engagement
ZIP Archive
Download the complete print infographics toolkit (zip file)
Population and Demographic Change, 2010-2020
This report series explores recently released 2020 decennial census data from the U.S. Census Bureau to look at key population changes and demographic shifts that occurred over the past decade at the state and county levels. These reports include figures, tables, and discussion questions to help contextualize population information and stimulate conversations about demographic change in your county. These reports are created in partnership with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) and the CECD's Cristy Schmidt, Penn State Extension applied research educator, who currently serves as CCAP Extension fellow.
PA Agriculture Analysis
These reports look at trends in Pennsylvania agriculture. Data in each report comes from the USDA’s Census of Agriculture.
PDF document, 9.9 MB
Using maps and figures, this report provides a graphic update on the number of farms, land in farms, agricultural product sales, farm incomes, and information on farm operators by county in Pennsylvania in 2017.
PDF document, 2.9 MB
Agriculture in Pennsylvania is diverse. However, the major differences in farm size often are overlooked when people discuss Pennsylvania farming, as is the important role played by the Commonwealth’s smallest farms. This report explores key characteristics of Pennsylvania's small farms, including where they are, what they produce, how much they sell, how much land they use, and who operates them.
PDF document, 902.9 KB
Small farms in Pennsylvania are often overlooked when people talk about agriculture. Though small farms far outnumber larger farms, they contribute relatively little to total agricultural production in Pennsylvania. Narrowly focusing on the value of their agricultural sales misses the reasons many small farms are operated and the important roles they play. This report explores the roles that Pennsylvania small farms play within the agricultural and statewide economy.
PDF document, 3.4 MB
This report examines agricultural land use in PA, including how much farmland is in the state and in each county and how that land is used.
PDF document, 1.3 MB
This report explores the age of producers in PA, including how age varies across farm size, market value of ag sales, and types of agricultural production.
PDF document, 1.4 MB
This report looks at differences between male and female producers in PA in terms of how much they sell, where they produce, and what they produce.
PDF document, 2.7 MB
This report, featuring many maps and graphs, looks at major trends in Pennsylvania agriculture using data from the 2012 Census of Agriculture.
2019 County Profile Reports
This series of county profile reports is intended to help you identify the opportunities and challenges that your county faces. Each county report reviews important population, quality of life, economic, and agricultural information.
PDF document, 4.9 MB
COVID-19 Analysis
This series of reports look at some of the preliminary impacts of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic on Pennsylvania's economy.
These maps look at some of the ways that Pennsylvanians may be vulnerable to risk in times of crisis. Each section explores a vulnerability factor through an interactive map and discussion questions. The data currently displayed in the maps shows what conditions were like before the COVID-19 pandemic. As you explore the data, consider what this might mean for your community moving forward. Decision-makers can use this resource to inform how they respond to local challenges.
These reports looks at how unemployment claims varied across PA’s economic sectors and by race, sex, and age during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.
PDF document, 1.9 MB
This report provides a summary of the number of jobs and the amount of payroll in Pennsylvania that comes from sectors classified as life-sustaining and non-life-sustaining based on May 2020 state orders. Please note that these estimates do not indicate how many jobs nor how much payroll was actually 'lost' as a result of the COVID-19 shutdown. County-specific information about jobs and payroll by life-sustaining status at the sector level are also available in the below appendix tables.
Economic Trends
These reports explore economic trends in communities and employment sectors throughout Pennsylvania. Reports include multiple analyses of how market trends and business decisions alter the economic and social landscape of a given community.
PDF document, 4.3 MB
This report explores the story of county-level employment change across industries in Pennsylvania between 2001 and 2019. Job creation and loss for Pennsylvanians fluctuated significantly by county and industry sector, particularly in the years immediately following the Great Recession of '08 and '09, but the Commonwealth's employment recovery is characterized by resilience.
PDF document, 2.9 MB
The Pennsylvania economy peaked in 2008. Since 2008 it has gone from “bust-to-boom.” The hard hit of the Great Recession (bust) and slow recovery has been followed by post-recovery growth (boom). Currently the Pennsylvania economy — along with the U.S economy — is on track for a record-breaking period of continuous overall employment growth. However, the nature of the employment expansion is more complex across counties and industries. The 10 years of “bust-to-boom” during 2008-2018 seriously impacted local economies throughout the Commonwealth in varying degrees. This report tracks growth and decline in total employment and employment in major industries statewide, in Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, and PA’s five regions 2008-18. The time period includes the Great Recession -recovery (2008-15) and post-recovery growth (2Q 2015-18). Bottom-line: The report is a graphic look – big picture and in detail – of the geography of job change in Pennsylvania – Great Recession - recovery and beyond.
PDF document, 3.6 MB
PDF document, 3.2 MB
PDF document, 883.7 KB
The Great Recession of 2008 is history and at first glance the Pennsylvania economy appears to have emerged unscathed. Total employment declined a mere -0.3% during 2008-14 – a loss of 190,000-plus jobs in the first year of the Recession was offset by five years of growth restoring employment to near pre-recession high in 2014. The minimal decline in total employment 2008-14 suggests a static, no growth job scene in Pennsylvania during the six years of Recession to recovery. However - a drill down to industries reveals jobs on the move with continual gains and losses in hundreds of industries during 2008-14. The wide range of job gains and losses among industries 2008-14 raises the question: What was the real impact of the Recession and recovery on jobs and industries in Pennsylvania? This report looks in-depth at job change in 19 Major industries and 256 Detailed industries in Pennsylvania during 2008-14. Special focus is on the impact of the Recession
PDF document, 584.6 KB
Business Cycle to Great Recession and Beyond
UA455. Free. Pennsylvania: Road to Growth looks forward to post-recession times with an in-depth review of the track records of Pennsylvania industries and counties from 2001 to 2007, detailing trends in employment, unemployment, and population. This publication also offers a brief appraisal of the 2001 recession impacts and statewide forecasts of key economic indicators.
PDF document, 232.5 KB
PDF document, 118.8 KB
A closer look at the relative importance of labor market and amenity differentials between origin and destination counties
PDF document, 202.7 KB
A model of employment growth in high tech manufacturing industries
Economic Impact
Reports explore how certain social and environmental events contribute to the economic profile of a place.
PDF document, 334.7 KB
The purpose of this study is to estimate the potential economic impact of the development of community solar facilities in Pennsylvania. This analysis was conducted on behalf of and funded by the Coalition for Community Solar Access in September 2020.
PDF document, 1.7 MB
This analysis looks at how the spotted lanternfly, if not contained, might impact Pennsylvania’s economy. We collaborated with Penn State researchers to conduct this analysis, and this study was funded by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, a legislative agency of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
PDF document, 465.4 KB
This study considers the potential regional economic gains in Pennsylvania from advanced biofuels production. The analysis considers four producing regions and, respectively, miscanthus, switchgrass, and soft willow as the cellulosic feedstocks. In all, 12 models were developed to project economic impacts in each region and for each feedstock type. The modeling process combined inputs from Penn State experts in crop production, the transformation of that information so that it was suitable for entry into an impact modeling structure, technical production coefficients from the National Renewable Energy Laboratories (NREL) for enzymatic cellulosic ethanol production, and regionally-specific industrial production accounts generated from the IMPLAN input-output modeling system.
PDF document, 1.2 MB
An estimate and analysis of economic impact in Dauphin and Cumberland Counties during the major events held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center from December 2012 to November 2013. This includes the change in employment, income and outcome resulting from the event, and impacting the local community.
