The Lehigh Valley’s role in what’s being called the Fourth Industrial Revolution was highlighted in an article published recently in Industry Today.
“The Manufacturing Renaissance In Lehigh Valley, PA,” written by Don Cunningham, President & CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC), explores how the growing region has built a diversified economy centered on its manufacturing roots. 
“Thanks to the advanced manufacturers, food and beverage producers, and technology and life science companies that have established and expanded the Lehigh Valley operations in the last 25 years, the region is today at the center of what’s being called the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Cunningham wrote.
“A big part of the Lehigh Valley’s economic reinvention is rooted in its manufacturing tradition,” he said. “We still make things: internationally recognized brands like Crayola crayons, Martin Guitars, and Mack Trucks, and cutting-edge products like optical semiconductors, energy-efficient lighting controls, and in-home diagnostic tests.”
Manufacturing makes up $8 billion, or 16%, of the Lehigh Valley’s record Gross Domestic Product of $50 billion. More than 700 manufacturers employ 37,000 people. Manufacturing jobs have grown by 22% in the last decade, and average annual wages have increased by more than $20,000, contributing to a median household income for the Lehigh Valley that is greater than the national median.
The region’s GDP has grown by $10 billion in the past five years. Fueling that growth and the Lehigh Valley’s economic transformation is a talented workforce with skills that employers need to be successful in a 21st century economy, Cunningham wrote.
The Lehigh Valley’s 11 colleges and universities and three career and technical schools graduate more than 11,000 students annually to expand the workforce. Last year, the region debuted an innovative new apprenticeship program, the Industrial Training and Education Consortium of the Lehigh Valley (iTEC). It is a partnership of industry, education, government, and community organizations to promote careers in advanced manufacturing.
“The evolution of the Lehigh Valley into a 21st-century manufacturing hub has transformed our community. The population is growing. Job opportunities are increasing for people of all education levels. Regional prosperity is on the rise. The outcomes produced by the Lehigh Valley’s partnership approach motivate us to persist on this trajectory, aiming for sustained economic growth that benefits every person who lives here and attracts new talent seeking opportunity and an exceptional quality of life,” Cunningham wrote.
Industry Today is a media platform and news outlet that reaches decision makers and buyers in the world of manufacturing and across multiple industries including aerospace, automotive, chemicals, food and beverage, engineering, and logistics. The publication reaches more than 30 million users in more than 200 countries, with an additional 6,000 users across LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. It has a monthly readership of 102,000.