Arts Culture Heritage

A region’s competitiveness extends beyond its economy, housing, and infrastructure. Quality-of-life factors are critical for attracting and retaining graduates and skilled workers. Although these aspects of a community are difficult to measure systematically, they include economic activity, investment in the arts, and preservation of historic resources and landscapes. The indicators in this category highlight some metrics that demonstrate quality of life.

In addition to making the region a more attractive place to live and work, strong cultural resources drive tourism. As of 2023, visitor spending in the region exceeded $2.4 billion in the three counties, and the economic ripple effects of this activity spread across many industry sectors and communities. Tourism was reduced in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions on travel, but there was a resurgence in 2021. All three counties saw tourism rebound faster than Pennsylvania as a whole. As of the publication date, tourism in the United States saw a significant decline in the first quarter of 2025. Since a portion of this region's tourism relies on visitors from outside the U.S., we may anticipate a reduction in economic impact and employment within this sector when the data for 2025 is released. This decline is expected to negatively affect local government revenue and earnings in the retail and hospitality industries.

There has also been a resurgence in arts and entertainment regionwide. People employed in entertainment, sports, and art and design receive competitive median wages compared to the average of all occupations. Overall, the number of arts and design workers has increased regionally throughout the past decade. The number of entertainers, performers, sports, and related workers has declined during that period.

Scenic landscapes and historic resources are important aspects of tourism development and quality of life. The region is home to between four percent and five percent of Pennsylvania’s historic sites and markers, and in 2022. However, there was a decrease in available state and county funds for farmland preservation (regionally and statewide).