By the early part of 2012, the Pittsburgh area is expected to see the same employment figures it experienced before the recession. That would make it one of the first parts of the U.S. to recover, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The report didn't say what kinds of jobs were lost, what types are likely to replace them or why Pittsburgh is faring better than other parts of the country. However, in an email, Tom Jackson, senior economist at IHS Global Insight, said:
"Many areas of Pennsylvania, including the Pittsburgh metro area, are benefiting from the Marcellus Shale drilling activity. That certainly is giving Pennsylvania a boost relative to the rest of the country in terms of employment and gross economic output."
The University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and other institutions have "helped in a number of ways," he added. "The universities themselves are big employers, especially when you include the medical centers. They are also producing a large number of graduates in areas of high employment demand, which can help to encourage employers to move to or expand existing operations in the region."
Original source: Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRead the full story here.