Description of the Indicator
The government employee indicator depicts the number of government employees that Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wayne Counties employ.
Why is it important?
Tracking government employment across the three-county region enhances understanding of the government’s influence on the economy, its ability to deliver essential public services, and the efficiency of its administration.
How is the region performing?
Government employees in all three counties and the Commonwealth have fluctuated in the previous ten years. Among the three counties, only Wayne County had more government employees in 2024 than reported in 2015. The number of government employees in Lackawanna County in 2024 nearly matched the number of employees reported in 2015, and the numbers for Luzerne County and the Commonwealth are notably lower than those reported in 2015. Across the three-county region, a plurality of employees (41.1 percent) are local government employees. Smaller shares are federal and state employees (32.9 percent and 26.1 percent, respectively).