Business Characteristics
This chapter identifies basic business characteristics in Chester County, including major employers, number of establishments, and size of establishments.
Major Employers
Chester County's largest employers, by number of employees, include financial, online retail, governmental, hospital, educational, grocery, pharmaceutical, and computer companies and organizations.
Establishment data is pulled from both the U.S Census and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which differ in total establishment figures due to data collection differences.
Figure 29 — Major Employers 2023
- The Vanguard Group Inc
Multiple Locations - The Chester County Hospital
West Chester - County of Chester
Multiple Locations - Main Line Hospitals Inc
Multiple Locations - Federal Government
Multiple Locations - QVC Network Inc
West Chester - Giant Food Stores LLC
Multiple Locations - PA State System of Higher Education
Multiple Locations - Downingtown Area School District
Multiple Locations - Chester County Intermediate
Downingtown - West Chester Area School District
Multiple Locations - Communications Test Design Inc
West Chester - United Parcel Service Inc
Multiple Locations - Wawa Inc
Multiple Locations - YMCA of Greater Brandywine
Multiple Locations - IQVIA Inc
Tredyffrin - Wal-Mart Associates Inc
Multiple Locations - State Government
Multiple Locations - Wegmans Food Markets Inc
Multiple Locations - Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc
Malvern - Janssen Research & Development LLC
Multiple Locations - The Arc of Chester County
West Chester - Comcast Cablevision Corp (PA)
Kennett Square - Oracle America Inc
Malvern - Johnson Matthey Inc
West Chester - ACME Markets Inc
Multiple Locations - Tredyffrin/Easttown School District
Multiple Locations - George Krapf Jr & Sons Inc
Glenmoore - De Lage Landen Financial Services
Tredyffrin - The Pyle Corporation
West Chester - Herr Foods Inc
Nottingham - Owen J Roberts School District
Multiple Locations - Target Corporation
Multiple Locations - The Devereux Foundation
West Chester - Certainteed LLC
Malvern - Phoenixville Hospital LLC
Phoenixville - Unionville Chadds Ford School District
Multiple Locations - ABH Pennsylvania Children's Services
East Whiteland - Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square - Coatesville Area School District
Multiple Locations - Phoenixville Area School District
Multiple Locations - Kendal-Crosslands Communities
Kennett Square - Main Line Healthcare
Multiple Locations - Lowe's Home Centers LLC
Multiple Locations - Avon Grove School District
Multiple Locations - Renal Treatment Ctrs Mid-Atlantic
Coatesville - Aging With Comfort Inc
Multiple Locations - Great Valley School District
Multiple Locations - Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Product
Multiple Locations - Collegium Charter School
West Whiteland
Figure 30 — Major Employers 2021
Employment by Industry
The largest number of establishments are in professional services, health care, other services, construction, and retail. These industries often have businesses with multiple establishments. The data excludes sole proprietors, for example, a self-employed web designer who works from home would not be included in establishment counts.
Figure 31 — Employers by Industry
Establishments by Size
According to U.S. Census data, only 14 of the county's establishments have over 1,000 employees. The vast majority have two to nine employees.
Figure 32 — Establishments by Size
Establishments by Location
Chester County's businesses and other establishments are concentrated near population centers and transit nodes. These establishments are largely in or near the Landscapes3 urban and suburban centers.
