9.6 Philadelphia area Economic Summary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor is the principal Federal agency responsible for measuring labor market activity, working conditions, and price changes in the economy.

About Newswire Expert

Newswire Expert is your daily connection to the wire. Covering U.S. and International business, entertainment, technology and financial news releases.

area United States Philadelphia area United May Employer month percent Source U S U S BLS wages

Updated July 06, 2020
Average weekly wages for all industries by county
Philadelphia area, fourth quarter 2019
(U.S. = $1,185; Area = $1,277)
Source: U.S. BLS, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.
This summary presents a sampling of economic information for the area; supplemental data are provided for regions 
and the nation. Subjects include unemployment, employment, wages, prices, spending, and benefits. All data are not 
seasonally adjusted and some may be subject to revision. Area definitions may differ by subject. For more area 
summaries and geographic definitions, see www.bls.gov/regions/economic-summaries.htm.
Philadelphia area Economic Summary
Unemployment rates for the nation and selected 
areas
Over-the-year changes in employment on nonfarm payrolls and employment by major industry sector
15.8
14.9
9.6
15.0
13.4
13.0
5.2
3.3
3.0
3.4
3.8
3.4
0.0
10.0
20.0
Philadelphia Co.,
PA
New Castle Co.,
DE
Chester Co., PA
Camden Co., NJ
Philadelphia area
United States
May-19
May-20
Source: U.S. BLS, Local Area Unemployment Statistics.
Unemployment rates
-18.0
-16.0
-14.0
-12.0
-10.0
-8.0
-6.0
-4.0
-2.0
0.0
2.0
4.0
May-17
May-18
May-19
May-20
Philadelphia area
United States
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
12-month percent changes in employment
Number Percent
Total nonfarm
2,569.4
-416.3
-13.9
Mining, logging, and construction
93.1
-28.5
-23.4
Manufacturing
172.3
-11.4
-6.2
Trade, transportation, and util ities
460.8
-63.7
-12.1
Information
45.8
-3.1
-6.3
Financial activities
211.6
-5.7
-2.6
Professional and business services
434.8
-37.6
-8.0
Education and health services
601.8
-67.3
-10.1
Leisure and hospitality
132.8
-151.8
-53.3
Other services
81.8
-41.7
-33.8
Government
334.6
-5.5
-1.6
Source: U.S. BLS, Current Employment Statistics.
May 2020
Change from May 
2019
Philadelphia area employment
(number in thousands)
Over-the-year change in the prices paid by urban 
consumers for selected categories
Over-the-year changes in the selling prices received by 
producers for selected industries nationwide
Average hourly wages for selected occupations
Over-the-year changes in wages and salaries
Mid-Atlantic Information Office • BLSinfoPhiladelphia@bls.gov • https://www.bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic • 215-597-3282
Average annual spending and percent distribution 
for selected categories
Employer costs per hour worked for wages and 
selected employee benefits by geographic division
-0.1
4.8
-16.1
0.3
3.5
-17.7
-20.0
-15.0
-10.0
-5.0
0.0
5.0
10.0
All items
Food
Energy
Philadelphia area
U.S. city average
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Price Index.
12-month percent change in CPI-U, April 2020
-6.0
-4.0
-2.0
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
May-17
May-18
May-19
May-20
General freight trucking
Hospitals
Telecommunications
Source: U.S. BLS, Producer Price Index.
12-month percent changes in PPI
$23,225
$19,971
$11,065
$9,669
$8,919
$7,826
$7,984
$7,034
$5,669
$4,902
$13,951
$11,178
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Philadelphia area
United States
All other items
Healthcare
Personal insurance & pensions
Food
Transportation
Housing
Average annual expenditures, United States and 
Philadelphia area, 2017-18
Source: U.S. BLS, Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Occupation
Philadelphia 
area
United 
States
All occupations
$27.69 $25.72
Lawyers
75.42
69.86
Management analysts
47.85
45.94
Chemists
46.31
40.46
Brokerage clerks
27.78
26.53
Healthcare social workers
27.24
28.51
Construction laborers
24.19
20.06
Source: U.S. BLS, Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2019.
Private industry,
March 2020
Middle Atlantic
United 
States
Total compensation
$39.36
$35.34
   Wages and salaries
26.99
24.82
   Total benefits
12.37
10.53
      Paid leave
3.10
2.58
         Vacation
1.58
1.32
      Supplemental pay
1.38
1.19
      Insurance
3.35
2.80
      Retirement and savings
1.44
1.25
      Legally required benefits
3.10
2.70
Source: U.S. BLS, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation.
(1) The states that compose the Middle Atlantic census division are: NJ, NY, 
and PA.
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
Mar-17
Mar-18
Mar-19
Mar-20
Philadelphia area
United States
Source: U.S. BLS, Employment Cost Index.
12-month percent changes in ECI