Berkshire County Economy Overview (Report by Lightcast 2025)

Lightcast’s Economic Overview for Berkshire County: https://analyst.lightcast.io/tmp/ark/Economy_Overview_Berkshire_County_MA_c8e63b663f620530.pdf

Report summary:

• As of 2024 the region’s population increased by 1.4% since 2019, growing by 1,800. Population is expected to decrease by 0.5% between 2024 and 2029, losing 588.
• From 2019 to 2024, jobs declined by 5.0% in Berkshire County, MA from 68,623 to 65,163. This change fell short of the national growth rate of 4.3% by 9.3%. As the number of jobs declined, the labor force participation rate decreased from 63.9% to 58.1% between 2019 and 2024.
• Concerning educational attainment, 20.6% of Berkshire County, MA residents possess a Bachelor’s Degree (0.9% below the national average), and 8.2% hold an Associate’s Degree (0.6% below the national average).
• The top three industries in 2024 are Restaurants and Other Eating Places, Education and Hospitals (Local Government), and General Medical and Surgical Hospitals.