DescriptionThe Agriculture and Food Production (AFP) cluster begins with the growing of food crops, including grains and livestock, and ends with the wholesale distribution of these products. The cluster also includes support industries, such as refrigerated warehousing and fertilizer manufacturing, as well as public agencies that oversee agricultural programs.

2012 2017

7,612 8,088

163,327 175,340

2.9% 3.0%

$42,456 $45,955

Employer Units

Number of Jobs

Percent of Total Pennsylvania Jobs

Average Annual Wages

Location Quotient (LQ) 0.81 0.84

Cluster Summary

Pennsylvania defines industry clusters to serve as the basis for data-driven workforce development policies. An industry cluster includes industries closely linked by common products, labor pools, technologies, supplier chains and training needs. They take on strategic importance for long-term economic planning as changes that benefit one group member will generally impact other members of the cluster.

Industry clusters are comprised of specific six-digit North American Industry Classification System, or NAICS, codes. They are mutually exclusive, so that no two clusters contain the same NAICS code. Currently, there are 12 clusters identified, along with several critical sub-clusters. Combined, these 12 industry clusters account for nearly 83 percent of all employment in the Commonwealth.

AFP cluster employment in Pennsylvania has increased slightly, and it is a reflection of the economy as a whole. The cluster continued to account for three percent of total employment in the Commonwealth. National employment has mirrored state employment closely as the Location Quotient (LQ) has increased just slightly. Notably, however, is the fact that this traditionally low-paying cluster has seen significant gains in average wages; about an eight percent increase since 2012.

Center for Workforce Information & Analysis651 Boas St.

Harrisburg, PA 17121www.workstats.dli.pa.gov

Winter 2019

Agriculture and Food ProductionAgriculture and Food Production

LQs greater than one suggest a competitive advantage.

Top Industries Based on Employment• Veterinary Services

• General Line Grocery Merchant Wholesalers

• Commercial Bakeries

• Meat Processed from Carcasses

• Other Snack Food Manufacturing

• Other Grocery Product Merchant Wholesalers

• Animal, Except Poultry, Slaughtering

• Mushroom Produc�on

• Confec�onery Mfg. from Purchased Chocolate

• Nursery, Garden & Farm Supply Stores

• Poultry Processing

• Fruit & Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers

• Fruit & Vegetable Canning

• Refrigerated Warehousing & Storage

• Beer & Ale Merchant Wholesalers

• Chocolate & Confectionery Mfg. from Cacao Beans

• Fluid Milk Manufacturing

• Dairy Ca�le & Milk Produc�on

• Meat Markets

• Breweries

Center for Workforce Informa�on & Analysis www.workstats.dli.pa.gov

Winter 2019

Major Employers• The Hershey Company

• Hatfield Quality Meats Inc

• Cargill Meat Solutions Corporation

• Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc

• Farmers Pride Inc

• JBS Souderton Inc

Percent Employment by County

> 5.0%

5.0% - 2.5%

2.5% - 1.5%

<1.5%

Center for Workforce Information & Analysis www.workstats.dli.pa.gov

Winter 2019

Employment Concentration

A location quotient, or LQ, compares a cluster’s share of local employment to its share of national employment. This value can be used when evaluating the strength of an industry cluster within an area. An LQ greater than one indicates that the cluster has, on average, more employees locally than typically expected implying a possible competitive advantage. While the Lancaster Workforce Development Area (WDA) has the highest LQ of any area, it has declined very slightly in recent years. Only the Northern Tier, South Central, Luzerne-Schuylkill Counties and Lackawanna County WDAs have both LQs greater than one and have also slightly increased their competitiveness since 2012.

Lancaster County 2.02

Berks County

Northern Tier

South Central

1.56

1.46

1.44

Luzerne-Schuylkill Coun�es 1.28

1.26

1.11

1.03

Chester County

Central

Lackawanna County

Lehigh Valley

Southern Alleghenies

0.99

0.98 2017

West Central 0.89 2012

Northwest

Montgomery County

Westmoreland -Faye�e Coun�es

0.83

0.65

0.61

Tri-County

Bucks County

Philadelphia County

0.60

0.55

0.46

Pocono Coun es

Delaware County

Three Rivers

Southwest Corner

North Central

0.44

0.40

0.40

0.37

0.34

0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5

Occupations with Significant Employment

The following table lists occupations that employ at least 2,500 people in the AFP cluster.

Center for Workforce Information & Analysis www.workstats.dli.pa.gov

Winter 2019

Short-Term OJTModerate-Term OJTLong-Term TrainingPostsecondary TrainingAssociate DegreeBachelor’s DegreePost-Bachelor’s Degree

14%

12%50%

24%

Job OpeningsCluster

SOC Code Occupa on Wage Industry All

2017 Cluster Industries

53-7062 Laborers & Freight, Stock & Material Movers $31,199 397 4,25741-4012 Sales Representa�ves $65,937 187 1,73153-7064 Packers & Packagers, Hand $29,122 231 1,04751-9111 Packaging & Filling Machine Operators $34,992 269 62241-2031 Retail Salespersons $25,560 235 7,43141-2011 Cashiers $20,044 244 6,28451-3092 Food Batchmakers $34,003 122 13553-3032 Heavy & Tractor- Trailer Truck Drivers $43,918 153 2,33553-7051 Industrial Truck & Tractor Operators $39,303 137 87853-3031 Driver/Sales Workers $39,262 95 42551-9198 Helpers-- Produc�on Workers $30,650 136 75751-3011 Bakers $29,512 91 24553-3033 Light Truck or Delivery Services Drivers $31,838 69 77551-3023 Slaughterers & Meat Packers $29,891 76 7843-5081 Stock Clerks & Order Fillers $31,350 94 2,722

Educational Requirements

This graph illustrates the minimum educational attainment levels for jobs found in this cluster’s various industries. Seventy-four percent of AFP jobs require less than one year of on-the-job training to enter employment. The low-skilled occupations that make up this cluster will most likely remain, with technological advancement only requiring slightly more training.