Sep. 19—WILKES-BARRE — The 2021 Indicators Report, compiled by The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development at Wilkes University, found that the energy industry is integral to the region's economy — that it has a strong footprint and contributes a significant amount of impact, and growth in this area will benefit the region as a whole.
Executive Director Terri Ooms said the electric power generation industry in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties employs a relatively small number of the workforce currently at 1,017.
However, Ooms said the industry is a good employer:
—Average annual wages per worker are $152,366 (nearly $30,000 higher than the national average).
—Employment in this sector increased from 2019 — 2020 by 2 percent.
—The industry is projected to continue to grow.
—The industry employs a variety of engineers, technicians, and mechanics.
"The industry contributes 2.7 percent to our regionals GDP and spends over $23 million with suppliers in the region to operate," Ooms said. "The Industry supports nearly 2,000 jobs and generates over $1 billion in regional economic impact annually in a number of industry sectors."
Ooms said the natural gas industry in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties is primarily focused on distribution. It employs a relatively small number of the workforce currently at 490.
However, the industry is a good employer in that average annual wages per worker are $81,663 and employment in this sector increased from 2019 — 2020 by 1.2 percent. Ooms said the industry is not projected to continue to grow, but through replacement demand will need more workers. The industry employs a variety of mechanics, operators and office professionals in a variety of capacities.
"The industry contributes seven percent to our regionals GDP and spends nearly $7 million with suppliers in the region to operate," Ooms said. "The Industry supports over 750 jobs and generates over $400 million in regional economic impact annually in a number of industry sectors."
In the broader northeast region, Ooms said natural extraction has been a growing industry since the inception of Marcellus Shale industry in 2008. The result of this has had statewide impact both through the extraction process as an impact generator with a spillover effect but also with the distribution of funds to communities across the state for a variety of projects through the Marcellus Legacy Fund.
The natural gas extraction industry in the northeast quadrant of the state employs a relatively small number of the workforce currently at 643. However, the industry is a good employer in that average annual wages per worker are $114,362. Employment in this sector increased from 2019 — 2020 by 2.6 percent.