The most recent jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows a 4.4% unemployment rate for Berks County. How do we know if that is good, bad or neither? (for reference Pennsylvania is .1% lower and the US is .1% higher). Okay, so our rate is fairly in line with the state and national numbers, but again, is that good, or bad or neither? Let’s dive in.
First and foremost, what is an unemployment rate? An unemployment rate is a snapshot of how many people in the local labor force are actively looking for work but can’t find a job. The labor force is defined as anyone 16 or older who is participating in the job market, regardless of age.
State and national numbers aside, let’s focus on Berks County and our unemployment rate.
What does that 4.4% rate actually represent?
It means 4.4 out of every 100 people in the labor force are unemployed. Berks County has 221,900 people in the labor force.
The labor force includes:
- People who have jobs
- People who are actively looking for a job
It does NOT include:
- Retirees
- Students not seeking work
- People who have stopped looking (discouraged workers)
Now we know what it represents, but how about that question of Is 4.4% – good, bad, or neither?
Generally, 4%–5% is considered “healthy” or near full employment in the U.S. So, 4.4% is relatively low, suggesting that most working-age people (those who are 16 years and older) who want jobs have one. It means that businesses are hiring – though they may struggle to find workers – especially those with the skills required for an open position. Our unemployment rate is also an indicator that our local economy is relatively stable.
But who are those folks representing that 4.4%?
It represents real people without jobs, and in Berks County as of April 2026 (and these are the most recent job numbers) that’s about 9,700 people. And there can be a lot of reasons that these folks are unemployed. There could be skill mismatches, transportation issues related to getting to a job, lack of affordable childcare, and limited opportunities in certain industries meaning job openings exist, but not always in the industries where workers have experience or background.
What does the 4.4% NOT tell us?
The unemployment rate doesn’t count those people who are underemployed, which includes people working part-time who want full-time work. It also doesn’t tell us about the jobs that may exist and are available, but they may be low paying and not provide a viable opportunity for employment. That number also doesn’t give a clear picture of the labor force participation rate – the extent to which people are actively engaged in the job market. If people stop looking entirely, unemployment can go down—even if fewer people are actually working.
What are the top industries in Berks County contributing to our low 4.4% unemployment rate?
In Berks County, that 4.4% unemployment rate is heavily influenced by a few core industries that dominate hiring. Think of these as the “economic engines” keeping most people employed. Here are the ones that matter most:
- Manufacturing is the #1 driver and is the largest industry sector in Berks County by both jobs and economic output and represents 30,700 jobs. We have a very diverse manufacturing sector, and we produce an incredible range of products including metal & steel, batteries, food production, truck bodies, machinery, and plastics. Our manufacturers are the primary provider of stable, middle-income jobs and career pathways. Berks County companies are stable and strong and when manufacturing is strong, unemployment stays low.
- Transportation, Warehousing & Logistics is a fast growth industry in the county and includes warehousing and trucking. It has seen the biggest job growth since 2019, representing 11,100 jobs. Why is this fast growth occurring in Berks County? LOCATION. We are strategically located between Philly, NYC, and major highways with access to the heavily populated Northeast corridor. This makes Berks ideal for distribution hubs. This sector tends to onboard workers quickly due to greater availability of entry level, and lower and mid-skill job openings. This in turn also contributes to keeping our unemployment rate low.
- Healthcare & Social Assistance is neck and neck with Manufacturing as the largest employment industry sector with 30,600 jobs. This sector includes Hospitals (Reading Hospital – Tower Health, Penn State Health St. Joe’s), nursing homes and Home health care. In addition to the medical field, the Social Assistance piece of this sector represents childcare, community organizations, counselors and others who provide support services. As it relates to our lower unemployment rate, there is always job demand (Berks has a growing aging population).
If there are 9,700 unemployed people in Berks County, how many jobs are available?
The estimated active job openings listed online for Berks County is in the 7,989 range. Important to note that not every job gets posted online and some postings are duplicates. With estimating that 1.2 to 1.5 postings x the number of online postings represents the real number of openings, the low estimate is 9,500 openings and the high estimate is 12,000 openings.
With 9,700 unemployed people, Berks County is basically at: “1 job opening for every 1 worker looking”. This means 1/ we have a fairly tight job market; 2/ employers must work harder to hire – find the right people and match for their open positions; and 3/ that 4.4% unemployment rate will stay low in our community because jobs are available. But are they the right ones?
Now, about those “right ones” for Berks County….