Pennsylvania's businesses find success here -- and the statistics prove it. The Keystone State has amazing market access along with a first-class transportation system. As a technology leader, our workforce is highly skilled, with access to some of the best colleges and universities in the world are in the Commonwealth. Considering all these factors, it's no wonder that companies like Merck, Shire Pharmaceuticals, Olympus America and Comcast Corporation have decided to locate or expand in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Market Access
Fact: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has the 17th largest economy in the world, and six out of 10 major U.S. market areas lie within a 500-mile radius of its capital, Harrisburg.
Within this radius lies access to vital markets that encompass:
- 40% of the U.S. population and purchasing power
- More than 60% of Canada's population
- 45% of U.S. manufacturers
- 41% of the nation's domestic trade and service industries
- Pennsylvania's work force numbers 6,299,000, and 82% have earned at least a high school degree
Transportation
Fact: Pennsylvania offers every means to move your products, via ground, air and water.
Ground
- 120,000-mile highway system
- 69 railroads with more than 5,100 miles of railways (ranks 5th in the U.S. according to the Association of American Railroads)
Air
- 134 public-use airports (6 international) and almost 800 airports and landing facilities
Water
- Access to the World via the Port of Philadelphia.
- Access to Canada and the Great Lakes via the Port of Erie.
- The Port of Pittsburgh is the 2nd largest inland port in the U.S., with access to the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic, as well as the Pacific through the Panama Canal.
Workforce
Fact: Pennsylvania's workforce is highly skilled and well-educated.
- Pennsylvania's workforce numbers 6,299,000, and 82% have earned at least a high school degree
- Pennsylvania has the nation's 3rd-largest number of colleges and universities in the United States (National Center for Education Statistics)
- Almost 3 out of every 4 of PA's 2001 high school graduates went on to college -- well above the national rate of 62%. (National Center for Education Statistics)
- University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine ranks 4th nationally overall and also 4th as a top research school (US news and World Report 2005)
- US News and World Report rated the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania the #1 undergraduate business program in 2005.
- The Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon, located in Pittsburgh, consistently ranks among the top business schools in the world, including its latest ranking as #2 in the world in 2004 by The Wall Street Journal.
Technology Leader
Fact: Pennsylvania is home to 2,038 biosciences establishments (Pennsylvania Bio State of the Industry Report, 2004)
- 7th as a nanotechnology “hotspot” according to Small Times Magazine, 3-04.
- Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area (CMSA) rated #1 for location of biotechnology companies (Brookings Report, 2003).
- 4th in industrial research and development funds in Pharmaceuticals (Milken 2004)
- 5th in number of Doctoral Scientists employed in the state (National Science Foundation)
- Greater Philadelphia is the 3rd most vibrabt biosciences cluster in the U.S. (Milken, 2005)
World-Class Economy
Fact: According to the World Bank, World Development Indicators 2005 Pennsylvania is the 17th largest economy in the world with $450 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
