Altoona, PA

Altoona Metro Area industry wages have increased by 14.1% percent since 2001

2007-03-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

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From the second quarter of 2001 to the second quarter of 2006, industry wages have increased in the Altoona Metro Area by a total of 14.1%. This is less than the growth in wages for the State of Pennsylvania and less than the growth in average wages for the US.

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Altoona Metro Area Industry Wages Lag Behind Pennsylvania, and Wages Lag Behind the United States Industry Wages

2007-02-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

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The overall industry wages in Altoona, PA when analyzed can be described as relatively low when analyzed with other Metro Areas in the United States. The overall wages are 27 percent lower than the state, which accounted an average of $39,178. The industry pay was less than the national industry average of $40,259.

About: These facts are part of the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Altoona Five-Year Industry Employment Change

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Of the 107 4-digit NAICS industries, 46 showed an escalation in the number employed, while 61 industry sectors accounting for employment declines during that time period.

In the Altoona, PA metro area, the total number of workers for all sectors has increased by 1,313 total jobs between the 2nd Quarter of 2001 and 2nd Quarter of 2006.

Total Five-Year Employment Decline in the Altoona Metro Area

Of the area's industries (4-digit NAICS), the Department stores industry experienced most substantial job loss, losing 509 jobs. The declines in the Department stores industry make up 18.9 percent of the jobs lost during the period in Altoona, PA.

Top 5 Industries
1. Department stores (509 jobs lost)
2. Cement and concrete product manufacturing (259 jobs lost)
3. Grocery and Related Product Wholesalers (255 jobs lost)
4. Machine shops and threaded product mfg. (167 jobs lost)
5. Drinking places, alcoholic beverages (162 jobs lost)

Total Five-Year Employment Growth in the Altoona Metro Area

Out of the 4-digit NAICS industries, the Other general merchandise stores industry has brought the most jobs with a total of 567 employees finding new jobs in the industry. The employment growth in the Other general merchandise stores industry makes up 11.3 percent of the total growth in Altoona.

Top 5 Industries
1. Other general merchandise stores (567 new jobs)
2. Individual and family services (395 new jobs)
3. Warehousing and storage (363 new jobs)
4. Full-service restaurants (295 new jobs)
5. Employment services (245 new jobs)

The Altoona Metro Area: Five-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Cement and concrete product manufacturing industry has lost the biggest percent of jobs, losing 65.2 percent of the jobs from 2001 to 2006. These have declined faster than the industry sector has gone through in the Pennsylvania, where the industry reported a gain of 3.8 percent. The losses in the Cement and concrete product manufacturing industry in Altoona outpaced the US in terms of percent of decline of industry employment. The US gained 5.3 in percent of jobs in the Cement and concrete product manufacturing industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Cement and concrete product manufacturing (65.2 percent decline)
2. Electronic equipment repair and maintenance (54.9 percent decline)
3. Machine shops and threaded product mfg. (53.4 percent decline)
4. Other ambulatory health care services (49.2 percent decline)
5. Used merchandise stores (43.4 percent decline)

The Altoona Metro Area: Five-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Commercial machinery repair and maintenance industry has witnessed the largest percentage of employment expansion, increasing by 1460.0 percent from the 2001 (Q2) to the 2006 (Q2). This industry in Altoona has expanded faster than the growth seen in the industry for Pennsylvania, where the industry felt a gain of 42.2 percent. The Commercial machinery repair and maintenance industry in Altoona outpaced the nation in terms of industry employment growth . During this period, the nation gained 9.6 percent in this industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Commercial machinery repair and maintenance (1460.0 percent gain)
2. Electric goods merchant wholesalers (334.3 percent gain)
3. Travel arrangement and reservation services (158.9 percent gain)
4. Warehousing and storage (151.0 percent gain)
5. Other general merchandise stores (128.0 percent gain)

Employment for all industries has increased by 2.6 percent since the 2nd Quarter figures of 2001. This change is greater than growth in the State of Pennsylvania, which saw a gain of 0.5 percent since 2001 ( 2nd Quarter). The gains were greater than than the gain seen for the United States of 2.6 percent.

Altoona One-Year Industry Employment Change

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The Altoona Metro Area: One-Year Percentage Growth in Employment

The Paper and paper product merchant wholesalers industry has experienced the largest percentage growth, expanding by 188.9 percent from the 2005 (Q2) to the 2006 (Q2). This industry in Altoona has grow faster than the industry job growth experienced in Pennsylvania, where the industry felt a loss of 1.6 percent. The Paper and paper product merchant wholesalers industry in Altoona outpaced the nation in terms of industry employment growth . During this period, the nation lost 1.2 percent of the employment in this industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Paper and paper product merchant wholesalers (188.9 percent gain)
2. Individual and family services (35.9 percent gain)
3. Other support services (34.8 percent gain)
4. Professional and similar organizations (30.5 percent gain)
5. Other schools and instruction (29.5 percent gain)

The Altoona Metro Area: One-Year Percentage Decline in Employment

The Cement and concrete product manufacturing industry has lost the biggest percent of jobs, losing 71 percent from 2005 (2nd Quarter) to 2006 (2nd Quarter). These losses have declined faster than the industry has seen in the Pennsylvania, where the industry felt a gain of 0.3 percent. The losses in the Cement and concrete product manufacturing industry in Altoona outpaced the US in terms of percent of decline of industry employment. The US gained 4.4 in percent of jobs in the Cement and concrete product manufacturing industry.

Top 5 Industries
1. Cement and concrete product manufacturing (71 percent decline)
2. Other ambulatory health care services (41.6 percent decline)
3. Lessors of real estate (31.5 percent decline)
4. Employment services (24.7 percent decline)
5. Petroleum merchant wholesalers (23.1 percent decline)

Total industry employment has decreased by 0.1 percent since the 2nd Quarter figures of 2005. This change is greater than percent in the State of Pennsylvania, which experienced a gain of 1.1 percent from 2005 (2nd Quarter). The losses felt were greater than than the gain seen for the United States of 2 percent.

Total One-Year Employment Decline in the Altoona Metro Area

The Cement and concrete product manufacturing industry experienced most substantial job loss, losing 338 jobs during the period. The employment lost in the Cement and concrete product manufacturing industry make up 17.9 percent of the jobs lost during the period in Altoona, PA.

Top 5 Industries
1. Cement and concrete product manufacturing (338 jobs lost)
2. Employment services (211 jobs lost)
3. Advertising and related services (109 jobs lost)
4. Nonresidential building construction (92 jobs lost)
5. Full-service restaurants (90 jobs lost)

Total One-Year Employment Growth in the Altoona Metro Area

Of the industries (4-digit NAICS) in the area, the Individual and family services industry has brought the most jobs with a total of 188 new jobs created in the period. The job growth in the Individual and family services industry makes up 18.0 percent of the total employment growth in Altoona.

Top 5 Industries
1. Individual and family services (188 new jobs)
2. Motor vehicle and parts merchant wholesalers (74 new jobs)
3. Limited-service eating places (64 new jobs)
4. Professional and similar organizations (58 new jobs)
5. Management of companies and enterprises (45 new jobs)

Out of the 121 industries with industry data reported by the BLS in each quarter, 59 reported job growth in the duration of the year and 61 industry sectors accounting for employment declines during that time period.

In the Altoona, PA metro area, the aggregate employment for all industry sectors has decreased by 32 total jobs between the 2nd Quarter of 2005 and 2nd Quarter of 2006.

About: This report is part 1 of 6 in the eCanned.com Industry Analysis Series.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). Private Sector Employment Only.

Income and Poverty in Altoona, PA

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The median household income has declined from the values (adjusted for inflation) in 2000. The median has decreased to $33,730, posting a 12.3 percent decline. The Altoona, PA MSA, in terms of percent of decline, ranks 1 of 11 metro area in percent of decline for the household income level in the State of Pennsylvania. Altoona ranks 50 of 233 metro area in terms of the decline in median income level for the United States.

While household income level experienced a decline in the last five year in the Altoona, PA metro area, the Race/Ethnicity category that felt the biggest decline in median income was the American Indian and Alaska Native Race/Ethnicity category. This category went through a decline of 2697380.8 percent since 2000. The American Indian and Alaska Native Race/Ethnicity group has been least impacted by the median income decline in Altoona, experiencing a 2697380.8 percent decline in median household income from 2000 to 2005.

The rate of poverty in the Altoona, PA Metro has increased by 1.2 percent since the 2000 rates, moving from 12.6 percent to 13.8 percent.

Evaluated with other MSAs across the nation, the Altoona metro area may be understood as having a medium-high poverty rate amongst the population, with a poverty rate of 12.6 percent of the population with family incomes below the 1999 poverty level. The American Indian and Alaska Native race/ethnicity demographic category, owns the foremost rate of poverty with 58.1 percent of the 2000 residents living in poverty. People aged 5 years have the largest percent of population in poverty in Altoona, accounting 20.3 percent of the population in this age category living in poverty.

When analyzed against other Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the US, the Altoona metro area accounted a relatively low median income for households of $38,447 (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars). This is 22 percent lower than the median income in State of Pennsylvania of $46,924 and the income level is 27.8 percent lower than the median for the rest of the nation, which is a reported $49,133.

In Altoona, PA White householders had a median income (2005 Dollars) of $38,592 according to the 2000 Dencennial Census, which was 0.4 percent greater than the median in 2000. Hispanic Householders in Altoona, PA recorded a median income of $23,799, this income level is 38.1 percent less than the median reported for all households in the area. The American Indian and Alaska Native headed households in Altoona had a median income of $16,088, this level was 58.2 percent less than the areas median level for all households. Black or African American headed households had median income levels that were 35.7 percent less than the all population median published in the 2000 Census, with a median of $24,716. It was reported in 2000 that the Asian headed households had median household incomes of $69,155. This household income level is 79.9 percent greater than the all households reported median in the area.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

Higher Education in the Altoona, PA Metro Area

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Altoona, PA Metro Area can be considered to have a less-educated 2005 population, with 15.8 percent of the population (+25) having received a BA or higher, as reported in American Community Survey of 2005. The Altoona MSA has a lower percent of highly educated individuals than the State of Pennsylvania's proportion of 25.6 percent and a lower percent than the national average of 27.2 percent.

From the years 2000 to 2005, the proportion of the male population that could be considered highly educated has decreased by 0.4 percent. By 2005, 15.6 percent of area's male population (+25) achieved a BA or Higher. During the same period, the percent of women (+25) that have earned a BA or higher has increased by a total of 3.6 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 16 percent of the women in the population had received a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Since the year 2000, the Altoona metro area has increased in the percent of the total population (+25) with a BA or Higher. The portion of this population has grown by 2.0 percent to a total of 15.8 percent in 2005, as reported by the American Community Survey. The proportion of the 2005 population having received at least a BA is less than the State of Pennsylvania percent of 25.6 and less than the national percent of 27.2.

According to the 2005 American Community Survey in the Altoona, PA Metro Area, the largest educational attainment category for men is the High School Diploma category, with 49.6 percent reaching this education level. The female population in the Altoona metro area have on average achieved a greater level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men; 15.6 percent (Men) versus 16 percent (Women). The largest educational attainment category for women is High School Diploma category, with 48.2 percent of women in the area reaching this education level.

In the Altoona, PA Metro Area according the 2005 American Community Survey, 15.8 percent of the White Alone, . percent of Black or African American, . percent of the Asian alone and . percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

Demographic Profile for Altoona, PA

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In the year 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the median age in the Altoona metro area to be 40.7 years of age. The median in Altoona is greater than the median age for the State of Pennsylvania of 39.7. Since 2000, the area has experienced an increase in the median, when the median age was 39.5 years old. With a total of 74.5 percent of the 2005 population being made up of children and youth younger than 18, Altoona can be described as being made up of a medium-high proportion of youths. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-high presence of the 2005 population base, with 63.3 percent of the population falling in this age category. The retirement (65 and over) group makes up 13.6 percent of the population. When compared to other metro areas in the United States, this represents a medium-low percent of the population.

In terms of total land area, the Altoona metro area spans a total area of 526 square miles. The MSA has a medium-high average population density of 241 persons per square mile, in 2005. Other US metro areas with similar densities include: -- more densely populated -- Dover (244 per sq. mile ), Anderson (244 per sq. mile ), Bay City (245 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Chattanooga (236 per sq. mile ), Corpus Christi (232 per sq. mile ), Jackson (232 per sq. mile ).

The Altoona metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population base that is comprised of 97 percent White, 1.3 percent African American, 0.5 percent Asian, and 0.6 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a very modest amount of racial and ethnic diversity, with 2.4 percent of the population made up of minorities. This is less than the State of Pennsylvania percent of 16.4. Since 2000, Altoona has increased the percent of minority makeup when 2.1 percent of the population was made up of minorities.

Since the year 2000, a low amount of people migrated into the Altoona metro area, with 164 people migrating in internationally. The international migration into Altoona accounts for 0.2 percent of the total migration into the State of Pennsylvania. This percent of international migration is low when compared to international migration per 2005 population.

The Altoona metro area had a population of 126,795 in 2005. The total population has decreased, from the population in the year 2000 of 129,060. The decline shows a decrease of -1.8 percent. Altoona ranks 11 of 14 MSAs in terms of population growth in Pennsylvania and the metro area ranks 335 of 361 metro areas by growth in MSA population in the United States.

Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.

Housing Report for Altoona

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In Altoona, the census reported 56,101 homes in 2005. The metro area has experienced a medium level of growth in the number housing units, adding a sum of 885 residential units since 2001, or 1.6 percent.

The residential home values in Altoona, Pennsylvania have experienced moderate increases since their reported values in 2000. The values have increased by $14,300, or 19.4 percent, since 2000 when their medians were reported to be $73,600.

Altoona recorded median owner-occupied home value in the year 2005 of $87,900, according to the American Community Survey. This value is less than the Pennsylvania 2005 home median value of $131,900 and less than median owner-occupied dwelling value of $167,500 for the United States in the same year.

According to the data, there is a large amount of housing that is affordable in Altoona, Pennsylvania. In 2005, 71.7 percent of the homes were valued under $125,000.

Altoona is made up of a small, but present proportion of high-valued homes. For the year 2005, the American Community Survey reports that 0.7 percent of the areas residential property was valued over $500k.

Throughout the State of Pennsylvania, Altoona stands 11 of the 14 metro areas in terms of percentage growth in new housing structures. The metropolitan statistical area (msa) ranks 335 of 361, in terms of residential real estate percentage change compared to other United States metro areas.

Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Employment Report for Altoona, Pennsylvania -- Annual 2005 Industry Summary

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In Altoona, Health care and social assistance, Retail Trade, and the Manufacturing industries have the largest percent of jobs of all industries. The Health care and social assistance is the largest employment industry and makes up 18.9 percent of all the jobs in the Metropolitain Area. This makes up 9,619 individuals. The Retail Trade and Manufacturing sectors account for 16.9 and 16.1 percent of the total jobs, respectively.

Manufacturing has a largest number of employees per establishment in Altoona Metropolitan Area (MSA), averaging 57 jobs per establishment, which is greater than the industry's average at the national level of 39 and greater than the State of Pennsylvania average of 41 for the Manufacturing industry.

An industry with high wages in Altoona is the management of companies and enterprises sector with an annual pay of $59,788. From the year 2001, the industry annual average pay has grown by 42.4 percent or $17,789. The State of Pennsylvania has a similar job market in the management of companies and enterprises sector, placing near the top of sectors by 2004 industry pay.

In Altoona, Health care and social assistance, Transportation and Warehousing and Manufacturing have the highest US LQ in 2005. The Health care and social assistance industry has a US LQ in the region of 1.46. The percent of employment in the Health care and social assistance sector is 1.46 times greater than the national average, signifying that Altoona may be an exporter of products or services of Health care and social assistance.

Administrative and waste services from 2001-2005 had the highest increase in employment in Altoona, rising by 29.4 percent. This is greater than the change of total jobs in the industry for the United States of 4.5 percent. The State of Pennsylvania had an industry job change of 1.5 percent, in the last 5 years.

Manufacturing since the year 2001 was faced with the largest loss in employment in the Altoona Metro Area. The sector dealt with a loss of 1,289 jobs during the period, or 13.6 percent of industry's employment. The industry declines made up 65.7 percent of the total loss in employment during the period.

Datasource: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW).