Williamsport ranks second in Pa. cities where young adults want to build careers at home
Williamsport, Pa. — More than half of young Pennsylvanians say they want to stay in or return to their hometowns to build careers, according to a new survey, with Williamsport ranking second statewide among cities where that commitment is strongest. A resume.io survey of 3,052 adults ages 18–35 found that 51% of young Pennsylvanians are committed to putting down professional roots in their hometowns. Family ties and lower costs of living topped the list of reasons, and those willing to accept lower pay to stay local said they would take an average 10.5% salary cut. The survey ranked cities by the number of respondents who said they planned to stay or return, with a minimum of 50 responses per city. The top three Pennsylvania cities were: ErieWilliamsportAltoona In Williamsport, technical education and manufacturing support skilled careers in the region. UPMC Williamsport is Lycoming County’s largest employer. Pennsylvania College of Technology trains workers for fields ranging from advanced manufacturing to healthcare, while companies such as West Pharmaceutical Services and ANDRITZ offer additional specialist roles. That mix of education and local employment creates pathways that do not automatically require leaving the Susquehanna Valley. Erie ranked first, citing a mix of manufacturing, healthcare,
