BERKS VITAL SIGNS OVERVIEW

Berks County has experienced an improving economy and low unemployment. More residents have health insurance and more students are graduating from high school. Growing diversity means the county is graying more slowly than it would have without increases in younger ethnic and racial groups.

Yet, the community faces broad challenges including rising poverty and stagnant incomes. Incomes of single parents, an increasing share of families, are often not high enough to cover life’s necessities. Additionally, not all groups are sharing in Berks’ prosperity: poverty rates among children of color are much higher than those of white children.

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