While it is not possible to know exactly what the future hold for post-pandemic economic recovery in the Montco area, a new report provides a glimpse of the best- and worst-case outcomes. The analysis came from the Pew Charitable Trusts and the William Penn Foundation, as reported by Taylor Allen for Axios.

According to the report, around 70,000 jobs are at risk in the region over the next three years.

What occurs in that time span has a significant effect on local prosperity. Or lack thereof.

The best possible outcome results from a rebound of in-person activity. This includes employees returning to onsite work and diners filling restaurants again, such as the King of Prussia Mall or Suburban Square. It also includes new business investments.

In a future of robust in-person activity, the city would regain about 36,100 jobs by 2025.

The second-best scenario grows the area through efforts to highlight “attractiveness and competitiveness.”

This tactic includes the effect of tax rates and regulatory policies and development on the local economy. It does not, however, hinge on a full-bore hospitality and leisure industry, which is still expected to be tamped down by slow recovery of “in-person” activities.

A successful attractiveness and competitiveness environment is projected to add 15,700 jobs to the recovery statistics.

The worst-case scenario is absent both these bellwethers: Low in-person activity. And no attractiveness/competitiveness investments.

This inadvisable course of action would lead to a projected loss of 34,100 jobs over three years.

Read more about the report’s findings on our economic recovery at Axios.