Everybody’s workin’ for the weekend. Everybody wants a true romance. 😻 Actually, we just want affordable groceries and healthcare…and for our landlord to stop asking us to pay rent. Can you believe this guy? 😠
Wondering how Keystone State workers are coping with today’s economy? 👷🏽♂️💸 The Keystone Research Center’s latest State of Working Pennsylvania report just dropped and we’re combing through the highlights.
Here’s Five Fast Facts on PA workers and the economy:
- 💼 On the Job - Right now, PA’s unemployment rate is at historic lows (3.4%) and it’s below the national average (4.2%). Job growth has also outpaced the national rate. However, unemployment for Black and Hispanic Pennsylvanians has been on the rise in recent years.
- ✂️ Chopping Block - The current administration’s efforts to thin out the federal workforce has resulted in significant job cuts nationwide. In PA, 2,600 federal employees have been laid off through July.
- 👛 Bare Minimum - The current minimum wage in PA sits at $7.25. It hasn’t budged since 2009 and it’s the lowest rate among PA’s neighbors. Some lawmakers are pushing for an increase to $15 an hour, but that’s still below a living wage. Researchers say that a Pennsylvanian must earn a wage of $22.91 per hour to afford basic essentials.
- 📉 Union Jack - Since the 1970’s, union membership in PA has been on the decline. It increased a little bit between 2016 and 2023, but that trend has reversed. The number of PA private-sector workers in unions dipped last year again.
- 🔮 Crystal Ball - Looking toward the future, we wonder how other Trump administration changes will impact Americans. Recent changes to SNAP benefits, cuts to research and university funding, and pending Medicare cuts could all have downstream impacts yet to be seen.
🔥Bottom line: Today’s economy sure has been rough on American households. While we’re waiting for the aliens to take over, you can find us in the backyard grillin’ and chillin’. When emergencies happen, sometimes a trip to the ER is on the menu. However, those trips often come with a hefty price tag. Bop over to this article to read about how much it could cost you.
What’s your hot take on the economy?
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