Competitiveness, Human
Capital, & Innovation in
the Blair County Economy
Altoona, PA
May 22, 2009
Rose M. Baker & David L. Passmore
Penn State Workforce Education
& Development Initiative

Slides from this
presentation
Links to reports
about the economy,
demography, &
workforce of Blair
County
Links to government
& regional web sites
Links to our work
Background information about Blair County and all slides in this presentation

Population
•125,734in 2008
•124,529in 2012
• Lower concentration
than state & nation
<55 years old
• Higher concentration
≥55 years old

Employment
•76,184in 2008
•76,298in 2012
• Modest gain in heath
care
• Large loss in
manufacturing

Migration in 2006
• 2.24% in-migrants
• 2.23% out–migrants
• Most migration to & from
surrounding counties
• 2,836 in & 2,819 out

Patents in 2007
•0.79per 10,000 in county
• 6.06 per 10,000 in state
• 7.88 per 10,000 in nation

Contributions to state
economy in 2007
• 0.77 % of gross state
product
• 0.63% of profits
• 0.82% of earnings
• 0.84% of taxes

Competitiveness
Education & Training
Innovation
Three factors affecting the vitality of the economy Blair County

Competitiveness
Education & Training
Innovation
Based on national, industry, & regional employment changes

Regional
National Regional
National
Employment
Industry Competitive
Effect Effect
Effect Change
Based on national, industry, & regional employment changes

From 2008 through 2012
Regional
113
National = Industry = Competitive
=
+4,833 –346 job increase
–4,372
Forecasted for Blair County

Highest
• Education,
agriculture, &
some services
Lowest
• Government,
manufacturing, retail
trade, & health care

Lower use of labor
than nation and
region for every
dollar of product &
service sold
Consider what
“competitiveness”

means

Highest
• Agriculture, utilities,
educational services
Lowest
• Government,
manufacturing, retail
trade, & health care

Competitiveness
Education & Training
Required
Innovation Economy
For job openings created by growth and change and by the need to replace workers
who die, retire, or otherwise leave their occupations in Blair County

For job openings created by growth and change and by the need to replace workers
who die, retire, or otherwise leave their occupations in Blair County

Competitiveness
Education & Training
Required
Innovation Economy

Based on work of Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class

Dynamic competitive environment which

emphasizes
◦ Flexibility
◦ Adaptability
◦ Capacity to add value through intangible assets
Knowledge workers and their talents become key

economic differentiators
 Choices for employment are not bounded by
traditional location/geographic characteristics

The Future of
Central Pennsylvania
Business & Industry
Central Pennsylvania Regional Career Fair
State College, PA
April 22, 2009
Rose M. Baker & David L. Passmore
Penn State Workforce Education
& Development Initiative