More than 429,000 workers who respect the value of hard work
Clarion County, Pennsylvania and the thirteen surrounding counties make up its labor shed — and what a remarkable resource it is! Within 50 miles of our county, you’ll find more than 429,000 highly skilled, well-educated, and hardworking people. Extend that to 75 miles, and the prospective labor base grows to just under 1.9 million individuals.
We offer more than just big numbers. For generations, our area’s residents have been the people who made manufacturing facilities productive, operated farms, and harvested our abundant woodlands. In other words, they’ve been raised in an atmosphere where hard work is both expected and respected, so it comes as no surprise that their work ethic is second to none. Add in our significant Amish workforce, widely recognized throughout the region for its construction know-how and flair for woodworking, and a surprisingly large number of military veterans, who bring technical skills along with their patriotism, and you’ll begin to see the many advantages of doing business here.
And while we respect the value of physical labor, our workforce also provides plenty of brainpower. Since 1867, Clarion University of Pennsylvania has been equipping young people and working adults for our community, the nation, and the world with the knowledge they need to help employers thrive. Clarion currently enrolls more than 5,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its more than one hundred degree programs, giving our communities a plentiful base of outstanding workers with a postsecondary education.
Our public-school districts, career centers, and community colleges share a strong focus on delivering workforce needs in the specific skill areas employers are seeking. You’ll find local programs in a wide range of disciplines, among them machining, CNC operation, welding, metal fabrication, woodworking, engineering, CAD, marketing, customer service, computer technology, electricity, plumbing, diesel technology, construction, HVAC-R, maintenance, computer networking, industrial technology, accounting, management, nursing, and many others.