In February 2018, Pennsylvania passed the 6,000,000 jobs milestone (York, Washington: employment, purchasing)

[Craziaskowboi]

The preliminary data for February 2018 had the total employment in Pennsylvania at 6,005,900 jobs, which is the first time it's ever reached the 6,000,000 milestone. Being preliminary, this data is subject to revision in the future, but the data for July-December 2017 was recently revised upward for Pennsylvania, so I think it's a safe bet that it's passed 6,000,000 jobs, or will within the next few months. The revised employment data for December 2017 had Pennsylvania at 5,993,600 jobs, which was very close.

For comparison, Pennsylvania's February 2001 peak was 5,722,500 jobs, and its April 2008 peak was 5,822,200 jobs. It's also added 441,800 jobs since February 2010, which was the nadir of the last recession, with 5,564,100 jobs. Year over year, the 6,005,900 jobs in February 2018 is an increase of 81,400 over February 2017, which had 5,924,500 jobs.

All in all, things seem to be looking up.

[Dequindre]

A rising tide lifts all boats!

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Craziaskowboi

The preliminary data for February 2018 had the total employment in Pennsylvania at 6,005,900 jobs, which is the first time it's ever reached the 6,000,000 milestone. Being preliminary, this data is subject to revision in the future, but the data for July-December 2017 was recently revised upward for Pennsylvania, so I think it's a safe bet that it's passed 6,000,000 jobs, or will within the next few months. The revised employment data for December 2017 had Pennsylvania at 5,993,600 jobs, which was very close.

For comparison, Pennsylvania's February 2001 peak was 5,722,500 jobs, and its April 2008 peak was 5,822,200 jobs. It's also added 441,800 jobs since February 2010, which was the nadir of the last recession, with 5,564,100 jobs. Year over year, the 6,005,900 jobs in February 2018 is an increase of 81,400 over February 2017, which had 5,924,500 jobs.

All in all, things seem to be looking up.

Pennsylvania employment in February was revised downward slightly to 6,001,900 jobs, but it's officially passed the 6,000,000 mark nonetheless. Not only that, but March and April were both revised upward, and they join last December as months with more than 80,000 jobs added year over year, making them the fastest months for job growth in Pennsylvania since 2011.

[Clark Park]

Lower unemployment is always good news ... but ... what is the quality of these jobs? Unlike every single state that borders PA (including West Virginia!) PA's minimum wage is still stuck at the paltry $7.25 per hour. Who could live on that?

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Lower unemployment is always good news ... but ... what is the quality of these jobs? Unlike every single state that borders PA (including West Virginia!) PA's minimum wage is still stuck at the paltry $7.25 per hour. Who could live on that?

In 2016, Pennsylvania ranked 18th of all 50 states and the District of Columbia in "real" median household income:


$76,260 - New Hampshire
$75,923 - Connecticut
$75,723 - Alaska
$73,760 - Maryland
$72,266 - Massachusetts
$72,133 - Hawaii
$70,982 - District of Columbia
$70,566 - Colorado
$70,310 - Washington
$70,218 - Minnesota

$68,468 - New Jersey
$67,481 - Utah
$66,637 - California
$66,451 - Virginia
$61,528 - Rhode Island
$61,437 - New York
$61,386 - Illinois
$60,979 - Pennsylvania
$60,837 - Vermont
$60,184 - North Dakota

$59,817 - Wisconsin
$59,374 - Nebraska
$59,135 - Oregon
$59,094 - Iowa
$58,146 - Texas
$58,046 - Delaware
$57,829 - Wyoming
$57,450 - South Dakota
$57,100 - Arizona
$57,091 - Michigan

$57,075 - Montana
$56,810 - Kansas
$56,564 - Idaho
$56,094 - Indiana
$55,431 - Nevada
$55,016 - Missouri
$54,336 - South Carolina
$53,985 - Ohio
$53,764 - North Carolina
$53,527 - Georgia

$51,344 - Tennessee
$51,176 - Florida
$50,943 - Oklahoma
$50,856 - Maine
$48,451 - New Mexico
$47,221 - Alabama
$45,907 - Arkansas
$45,369 - Kentucky
$44,354 - West Virginia
$42,196 - Louisiana

$41,099 - Mississippi

[MarketStEl]

I do note, however, that of the New England and Mid-Atlantic states, Pennsylvania's median household income trails all but Vermont, Delaware and Maine.

I'm not sure that's a Bad Thing, however.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Lower unemployment is always good news ... but ... what is the quality of these jobs? Unlike every single state that borders PA (including West Virginia!) PA's minimum wage is still stuck at the paltry $7.25 per hour. Who could live on that?

If you are making minimum wage at any point in your life there may be excuses in a poor economy but low unemployment drives wages up. I'd suggest getting some skills in demand if you are making minimum wage in a robust economy. CDL drivers for example are always in demand and while you won't get rich it can pay well especially when you have experience. I haven't driven a truck in over a decade but still have my license because I know I can have a well paying job today if I needed one. Someone like me with a lot of experience and clean driving record can make a substantial amount.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Lower unemployment is always good news ... but ... what is the quality of these jobs? Unlike every single state that borders PA (including West Virginia!) PA's minimum wage is still stuck at the paltry $7.25 per hour. Who could live on that?

Yes, compared to states like OH and WV, it's simply ridiculous that PA's minimum wage is lower. Although in the the very high COL states (essentially all of the Northeast excluding PA and the West Coast), their higher minimum wage rates don't necessarily translate to better purchasing power.

As for the types of jobs being added in PA, you'll see there's a healthy industry diversity: https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Labor...spx?newsid=327

In particular, sectors of professional & business services, financial activities, and educational & health services are all growing jobs at solid rates (faster than the overall state average). These sectors all have high concentrations of higher-paying careers.

Originally Posted by Craziaskowboi

In 2016, Pennsylvania ranked 18th of all 50 states and the District of Columbia in "real" median household income

Interesting, and that doesn't even adjust for COL, which would definitely compare favorably to states like NY, CA and NJ. Even MA and MD. Could I trouble you for a source on that?

[blazerj]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Lower unemployment is always good news ... but ... what is the quality of these jobs? Unlike every single state that borders PA (including West Virginia!) PA's minimum wage is still stuck at the paltry $7.25 per hour. Who could live on that?

Unemployment may be lower, but the OP doesn’t say that. And as anti-Obama bots like to say, “it’s just because people stopped looking for jobs and aren’t included in the percentages.”

[jtab4994]

Originally Posted by blazerj

Unemployment may be lower, but the OP doesn’t say that. And as anti-Obama bots like to say, “it’s just because people stopped looking for jobs and aren’t included in the percentages.”

Both anti-Obama and anti-Trump bots talking about "discouraged workers" are really talking about the U6 unemployment rate without realizing it. In my experience the whataboutism regarding discouraged workers goes back to anti-Reagan bots although we just called them liberals back then.

The popular Unemployment rate thrown around on cable news and the internet is the U3 rate.

Right now U3 is at 3.9% and U6 is at 7.5% The two rates usually move in tandem, so as U3 goes up or down U6 also goes up or down proportionately. U6 is always higher than U3.

U3 includes people who are unemployed but have looked for a job in the last 4 weeks.

U6 includes discouraged workers (people who looked for a job within 12 months but can't find one and have given up) and part-time workers who would rather work full time, former full-time workers who have become full-time students for economic reasons, and people of working age who have become disabled. U6 does not include retirees and young full-time students who have not yet entered the full-time workforce.