Largest Employers in Lehigh Valley
With a GDP of $40.1 billion, larger than that of the entire states of Wyoming and Vermont, the Lehigh Valley is the home of more than 15,000 businesses, including three Fortune 500 companies and many nationally-recognized brands. Check out the lists below of the Lehigh Valley’s largest employers by sector.
Corporate Headquarters
Located 90 minutes west of New York City and one hour north of Philadelphia, Lehigh Valley is the perfect place for companies seeking to operate in the East Coast. Lehigh Valley is the most affordable place in the most desirable market in the United States. This is why several nationally-known companies have established their headquarters here.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is alive and well in Lehigh Valley. With 700 manufacturers employing nearly 34,000 workers, manufacturing is the region’s third-largest sector region in terms of jobs, and the second-largest in terms of economic output. Manufacturing makes up 18.4% of the Lehigh Valley’s $40.1 billion GDP, a larger portion even than the days of Bethlehem Steel.
Healthcare & Education
Health care and social assistance is the Lehigh Valley’s top industry by employment. It is also one of Lehigh Valley’s greatest quality-of-life assets, providing residents and companies immediate access to some of the nation’s greatest hospitals and health networks. Likewise, Lehigh Valley boasts a multitude of world-class higher education institutions and technical and vocational schools.
Professional and Business Services
Whether data processing and hosting, financial transactions, payroll services, administrative management, or consulting services, the professional business and financing services benefit from the convergence of significant economic and technological forces present in Lehigh Valley. This includes our well-developed transportation infrastructure, high relative broadband rank, availability of suitable office space, and strong existing local pool of high-demand occupations.
Transportation & Logistics
The rise of e-commerce has increased the importance of transportation, warehousing and logistics, which is the fastest-growing sector in the Lehigh Valley economy. With a 9.5% year-over-year growth in economic output, this sector has added 10,000 jobs in the region within the last five years. Lehigh Valley’s central location makes us a prime location for transportation and logistics companies.
Food & Beverage
Lehigh Valley’s prime agricultural areas, abundance of fresh water and natural resources, and proximity to major East Coast population centers have long made it an ideal location for food and beverage companies. The region’s agricultural products for food processing and the availability of high-quality water also make it well-suited for this fast-changing industry.
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