Latest news with #TeriOoms
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'The Institute' Featured On Newsmakers Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11
(WBRE/WYOU) Newsmakers will feature 'The Institute' this weekend. The group works on research on the region on topics including employment, housing, childcare, and more. Hosts Jayne Ann Bugda and Andy Mehalshick will be joined by Teri Ooms, Jill Avery-Stoss, and Charlie Kasko. Their Research Is Used To Help Communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania Improve and Grow. They have been responsible for many programs and initiatives in our region over the past two decades. Newsmakers will air Saturday, May 10th at Noon on WBRE and Sunday, May 11th at 7:30 am on WYOU. More information Phone: (570) 408-9850Email: info@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
INNOVATION: Regional economy remains strong, according to The Institute
Apr. 27—WILKES-BARRE — Teri Ooms, chief executive officer at The Institute, said as a community, we need to recognize and celebrate our region's numerous advantages. "As we prepare for our upcoming Indicators Forum and review the data, we observe that our regional economy remains strong, with many indicators showing improvement," Ooms said. "Although 2025 may present some challenges, there is reason for optimism about the region's future." Ooms said many may not realize that Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA) boasts a robust manufacturing base and a thriving export market. "This strength spans multiple sectors, which helps shield us from significant downturns in any industry," Ooms said. "However, we still face challenges." Ooms said many residents are living in poverty and struggling to meet their basic needs. "Like many regions nationwide, we are experiencing a workforce shortage, with more job openings than available workers," Ooms said. "Employers can no longer approach recruitment and hiring as they did in the past." From year-round entertainment, sports and recreational opportunities to proximity to major cities, NEPA has much to offer, Ooms said. "We must promote NEPA as a great place to live and share this message, rather than focusing on its drawbacks," Ooms said. "I hope this is the year we achieve that." Ooms said The Institute is approaching its 21st anniversary and will present the 20th set of indicators. "We will continue our commitment to community-based initiatives,: Ooms said. "We will also enhance our public policy education, sharing more data with our state and federal representatives, while striving to educate the community about the importance of voting in local elections. "Additionally, we hope to broaden our community-based research efforts into other counties in NEPA. Our team is strong, and we are implementing a transition plan to promote Jill Avery-Stoss to President and CEO in 2026." About The Institute A collaboration among Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Johnson College, Keystone College, King's College, Lackawanna College, Luzerne County Community College, Marywood University, Misericordia University, Penn State Hazleton, Penn State Scranton, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, The Wright Center, University of Scranton, Wilkes University and the business community. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local unemployment rate ticks up slightly; labor force continues fall
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre/Hazleton metro area inched up one-tenth of a percentage point in December to 4.1% as the number of people in the local labor force also continues to fall, according to data from the state Department of Labor and Industry. After remaining at a record low 3.9% for seven months from February through September, the local rate ticked up to 4% in October. The rate held at 4% in November. The unemployment rate for Lackawanna County increased two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.2% in December — up from 3.8% in December 2023, per state data. Luzerne County's rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.7% — up from 4.4% in December 2023. Pennsylvania's unemployment rate increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.6% and the national rate dropped one-tenth of a percentage point to 4.1%, per state data. The local labor force declined by 1,100 from December 2023 to December 2024 and dropped by 1,900 from October to December, the department said. However, seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs in the local metro area increased by 900 in December to a record high 272,500. Teri Ooms, executive director of The Institute, a regional data analytics and research organization, noted the labor force bears monitoring as spring approaches. 'I think we need to keep an eye on it, but I don't think it requires an immediate panic,' she said. 'There are still job opportunities, so we definitely need the workers. There could be a variety of factors why people pull away from the workforce this time of the year — the holidays and winter months — especially if it's individuals who have difficulty maneuvering. If we don't see them come back in the next few months, as the weather warms up, I would be a little bit more concerned because then we're starting to see a trend. Right now, it could just be an anomaly.' Ooms added looming tariffs that may be implemented against Mexico and Canada — two of the country's major trade partners — may also impact the area moving forward. 'It's going to be interesting to see what actually unfolds because it's going to create some vulnerability in the job market — within certain industries — if tariffs go into effect,' she said. 'It could be a really ugly situation because our gross domestic product and export market has grown exponentially over the past decade and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is by far the largest export market for northeastern Pennsylvania.' While Steven Zellers, a state industry and business analyst, also feels the labor force numbers are worth tracking, he maintains the overall job picture remains strong in the region. 'It's pretty broad-based,' he said. 'A lot of the different sectors are up.' Specifically, the metro area added 2,200 jobs in the health care and social assistance sector from December 2023 to December 2024 and Zellers believes there is potential for even more growth due to the region's demographics. 'It seems like a lot of the bigger health organizations are opening more outpatient care locations,' he said. 'Other than the number of residents employed going down a little bit, everything else is firing on all cylinders.'
