Articles
“Work opportunities abound in Northeast Pennsylvania”, The Times Tribune, January 24, 2024
“2024 New Year’s Resolutions from community leaders”, The Times Leader, December 31, 2023
“Job expo to promote workforce readiness in region”, The Times Tribune, October 23, 2023
“Nonprofits tout excellence”, The Times Tribune, October 16, 2023
“Local Unemployment Rate Hits New Record Low”, The Times Tribune, September 26, 2023
“Indicators 2023: Crime rates in NEPA continue general decline”, The Times Leader, August 6, 2023
“CareerLink to host second chance hiring event”, The Times Tribune, July 10, 2023
“Local Unemployment Rate Approaches Record Low”, The Times Tribune, May 30, 2023
“Public Hearing Addressing Rural Workforce Challenges”, Fox56, May 17, 2023
“Ethnic Diversity Increases Signifigantly in Region”, The Citizens’ Voice, May 4, 2023
“Indicators 2023 report: ‘Economic indicators are good’”, The Times Leader, May 3, 2023
“Local Unemployment Rate Stays at 4.8% as Job Growth Continues”, The Times Tribune, April 4, 2023
“Newsmakers to Feature The Institute”, PA Homepage, April 9, 2023
“Local Women Leaders Say The Gender Wage Gap Still Exists”, The Times Tribune, March 26, 2023
“Scranton Again Tops List of County’s Largest Tax Burdens”, The Times Tribune, March 20, 2023
“Minimum Wage to Remain the Same in Pennslyvania”, The Citizens’ Voice, January 15, 2023
“Local Unemployment Rate Reaches Record Low”, The Times Tribune, December 28, 2022
“Academy Aims to Improve Local Workforce”, The Times Tribune, December 8, 2o22
“Study Finds Wage Gap Widening in NEPA”, The Citizens’ Voice, November 30, 2022
“Reassessment Crucial”, The Times Tribune, November 22, 2022
“Enthusiasm for a New Endeavor”, The Times Leader, November 19, 2022
“New Anti-Poverty Program Spans Five Counties”, The Times Leader, October 20, 2022
“Indicators 2022: NEPA Stands to Benefit from Land Recycling” The Times Leader, October 2, 2022
“Return to School Hampers Local Shops”, The Times Tribune, October 2, 2022
“Indicators 2022: Data Provides Snapshot of NEPA Infastructure” The Times Leader, September 25, 2022
“Passenger Rail Restoration Projects Gain Steam”, The Times Tribune, September 18, 2022
“Wright Center Launches Project PROGRESS”, The Times Tribune, September 6, 2022
“Local Unemployment Rate Reaches Lowest Point in 45 Months”, The Times Tribune, August 30, 2022
“Indicators 2022: Civic Engagement Ebbs and Flows in NEPA”, The Times Leader, August 21, 2022
“Health and Wellbeing Detailed in Annual Indicators Data Report”, The Times Leader, August 7, 2022
“A ‘Seismic Shift’ in Region’s Housing Market”, The Times Leader, July 17, 2022
“Indicators 2022 Employment Study Addresses Caregiver Barriers”, The Times Leader, June 20, 2022
“Data Indicators Detail Health of Regional Economy”, The Times Leader, June 16, 2022
“Pandemic Effects Central in 2022 Indicators Report”, The Times Leader, May 19, 2022
“Indicators Forum Stresses Workforce Readiness”, The Citizens Voice, May 19, 2022
“Greater Wyoming Valley Chamber Aiming to Elevate Region”, The Times Leader, April 28, 2022
“Huge Shift in Workforce on the Horizon”, The Times Tribune, April 24, 2022
“Region had 12th Worst Unemployment Rate in US in 2021”, The Citizens Voice, April 20, 2022
“Poverty Reduced Relatively Little in Luzerne County”, The Citizens’ Voice, April 17, 2022
“Local Unemployment Rate Continues to Decline”, The Times Tribune, April 5, 2022
“One Group Annually Reports How to Improve Communities”, PA Homepage, March 31, 2022
“NEPA Becomes More Diverse and so Does the Workforce”, The Citizens Voice, March 27, 2022
“Healthcare Jobs to Dominate the Local Landscape,” The Times Tribune, March 27, 2022
“The Times Tribune Column March 27, 2022”
“Healthcare Jobs to be in Demand in Region”, The Times Tribune, March 27, 2022
“Newsmakers to Feature The Institute,” PA Homepage, March 16, 2o22
“Business Schools Strive to Connect Students to Jobs”, The Times Tribune, March 3, 2022
“NEPA Needs More Housing, Will to Produce It”, The Times Tribune, February 14, 2022
“RISE partnership aims to remove barriers to the workforce,” The Times-Tribune, Oct. 26, 2021
“Johnson College and partners launch RISE, a workforce development program,” Fox56, Oct. 26, 2021
“Pandemic motivates people to switch jobs, start businesses,” The Times-Tribune, Oct. 17, 2021
“Community groups rally for vaccine education, distribution,” The Times-Tribune, Aug. 29, 2021
“Pandemic drove more people into early retirement,” The Citizens’ Voice, Aug. 1, 2021
Sarah, a former Institute intern, joined The Institute in April 2021 as a Research Assistant. She started her new role as a Research Analyst in January 2024. 
Dr. Jolene Carey-Pace joined The Institute Team in 2021 as a Research Analyst. In 2023, she was named Senior Research & Policy Analyst. 
Jill Avery-Stoss joined The Institute in June 2018 to fill the newly-created role of Research, Data, Intern & Administrative Coordinator. She assists with the collection and management of data for purposes of ethical and efficient analysis. She visits partner campuses to market The Institute’s internship opportunities, and participates in event-planning logistical activities as well. In 2021, Jill was promoted to Director of Operations to reflect the diversity in her job description and the additional marketing and communication functions she successfully mastered in 2020. In 2022, Jill was named Chief Operating Officer after expanding into both research and administrative management functions. Jill is taking on project management, fundraising, and other executive leadership functions of the organization.
Research Analyst in 2022.
Ooms is responsible for all facets of research, organizational strategy, and management. Ooms is an active principal investigator in all Institute research. Ooms has been nationally recognized as a leader in regional economic development. She turned that skill into a research institute to help other regions develop and prosper. Her strategic skills have allowed The Institute to expand its services to the private and non-profit sectors for research and analysis in community health needs assessments, strategic planning, market and feasibility studies, and economic impact analysis.