Philadelphia Works

08/05/2026

Philadelphia's labor force grew again this quarter. Real wages did not.

In three Philadelphia ZIP codes, more than 2,000 new unemployment claims were filed in the first three months of this year. 19143 in Southwest. 19124 along the Frankford corridor. 19140 in North Philadelphia. Those same neighborhoods carry the city's highest unemployment rates, block by block. Meanwhile Center City, University City, the Far Northeast, and the Northwest sit comfortably below the metro rate. Philadelphia does not have one labor market. It has several, and they are not converging.

That is the finding at the center of our 2026 Q1 Quarterly Labor Market Report, out now.

Three things we think Philadelphia's employers, investors, and elected leaders should sit with:

• The paycheck is losing. Private wages in the Philadelphia metro grew 1.3 percent over the year. Prices here grew 3.5 percent. That gap is the difference between a raise and a pay cut, and Philadelphia workers have been on the wrong side of it for 24 straight months.

• People are not quitting. They are being let go. New unemployment claims rose almost 20 percent over last year. Roughly three out of four came from layoffs, terminations, and suspensions.

• A growing share of hiring runs through the middle. Staffing agencies and temporary help firms posted 12,609 jobs this quarter, nearly matching the entire colleges and universities category. More of Philadelphia's job market now moves through intermediaries rather than through the employers doing the hiring.

None of this is a forecast. It is what already happened, in ZIP codes we can name.

Philadelphia Works publishes this report as the city's hub for labor market analysis. It is free, it is quarterly, and the full industry and occupation tables are in the back for anyone who wants to check our work.

Read it here: https://philaworks.org/philadelphias-quarterly-labor-market-report-2026-q1/

Philadelphia’s labor market entered 2026 sending two signals at once. The July 2026 Quarterly Labor Market Report from Philadelphia Works, Inc. documents a city where the labor force keeps expanding while wages, employment, and neighborhood conditions tell a harder story. The labor force grew by 2...

08/05/2026

Yesterday, our President & CEO and Manager of Training & Apprenticeship represented Philadelphia on a regional stage! 🙌

They joined workforce leaders and state career and technical education (CTE) directors from across the region to talk about Apprenticeship PHL and how strong partnerships between employers, educators, and workforce leaders are opening real career pathways right here at home.

So proud to see Philadelphia Works' approach to Registered Apprenticeship recognized as a model for the region. 👏

06/24/2026

Philadelphia Works was pleased to welcome Senator Joe Picozzi for a conversation about the workforce challenges and opportunities facing communities across Pennsylvania.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Picozzi brings an important perspective on how investments in workforce development can strengthen both local communities and Pennsylvania's long-term competitiveness.

From workforce readiness and educational attainment to housing and transportation, the discussion focused on the interconnected issues that shape economic opportunity throughout the Commonwealth.

Thank you to Senator Picozzi for his thoughtful engagement and to the PA CareerLink® PHL staff, along with Mike Joynes, Pat Clancy, Marsha Perry, and Gizela Burnside-Lopez for helping strengthen this important collaboration.

06/15/2026

Our President and CEO, Patrick Clancy, is headed to the Transforming Justice Conference tomorrow as a featured panelist on the Economic Mobility Panel.

The 6th Annual Conference, hosted by Uplift Solutions, brings together practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders honoring Reentry Month and confronting the systems that shape who gets to participate in our economy.

Philadelphia Works, Inc. is proud to stand alongside partners committed to workforce fair chance hiring, reentry support, and economic opportunity for all Philadelphia residents.

📍 Temple University, Howard Gittis Student Center | June 16

🔗 Register: www.upliftsolutions.org

05/28/2026

Meet Jason Ivey, Philadelphia Works' new Director of Adult Workforce Operations.

Jason will provide strategic leadership over adult workforce operations, overseeing service delivery, compliance, contracts, budgets, and performance goals.

We’re glad to have him on board. Welcome to Philadelphia Works, Jason!

05/22/2026

Young people in deserve access to careers, resources, and support that help them move forward, and that’s exactly what the Next Steps Opportunity Youth Fair is designed to provide.

If you are 16–24 years old, looking for work, need career guidance, or simply want to explore what’s next, this event is for you.

Join us for an afternoon focused on jobs, career pathways, resources, prizes, food, and real opportunities to take your next step.

📍 Lenfest Center
3890 N 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140

📅 Wednesday, June 3, 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

✔ Career opportunities
✔ Community resources
✔ Support services
✔ Free food
✔ Raffles & prizes
✔ No experience, diploma, or degree required

Philadelphia Works is proud to support outreach efforts that connect Philadelphia’s young people to meaningful opportunities and trusted community resources.

Thank you to all the partners helping make this event possible:
North10 Philadelphia | SquashSmarts | HealthWorks Academies

🔗 Register here : https://ow.ly/BQXU50Z3hhe?

Please share with a young person, parent, educator, or community member who should know about this opportunity.

05/19/2026

Please join us in welcoming Richard Prather, Senior Manager, Youth Workforce Systems
to Philadelphia Works!

In this role, Richard will provide strategic oversight to the youth workforce system, including management and support of the Career Connected Learning PHL intermediary and youth service providers. He will help ensure strong program quality, compliance, collaboration, and performance outcomes that advance opportunities for young people across .

Richard brings extensive experience in workforce development, training, partnership building, and system collaboration, along with a strong passion for youth empowerment and community impact. We are excited to have him join the team and look forward to the leadership and insight he will bring to our mission.

Welcome to Philadelphia Works, Richard!

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Lou Rodriguez, P.E. and the entire Rodriguez Consulting, LLC team on being named the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2026 Eastern Pennsylvania Entrepreneurial Success of the Year during National Small Business Week.

Eighteen years of meaningful work in civil engineering, land surveying, municipal services, and workforce development, right here in .

That kind of commitment to community does not go unnoticed.

We are proud to have Lou Rodriguez as a Philadelphia Works board member, and grateful to leaders like Patrick Clancy who make space for partnerships that strengthen Philadelphia's workforce ecosystem.

Congratulations to the full Rodriguez team, and to the U.S. Small Business Administration Eastern Pennsylvania District Office and Widener University SBDC for their continued investment in small business success across our region.

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04/30/2026

📊 What does Philadelphia's job market look like right now?

Philadelphia Works, Inc. just released its latest numbers, and here is the snapshot:

👥 791,640 Philadelphia residents in the workforce
✅ 749,560 employed
📌 5.3% unemployment rate

The most in-demand jobs? Registered Nurses, Software Developers, and Healthcare Managers. If you are thinking about your next move, skills in healthcare and tech are where the market is calling.

See the full dashboard: 🔗 philaworks.org/current-labor-market-conditions

And if you have recently been laid off, you are not alone. PA CareerLink Philadelphia is here to help you take your next step.



Note: Data reflects January 2026, the most recent available from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A 2 to 3 month publication lag is standard. A BLS methodology update effective January 2025 expanded the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) geography and sectors reported; trend comparisons across that date should be read with that context in mind.

04/27/2026

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