Pennsylvania unemployment has dropped below the national rate while health care and hospitality keep adding jobs. Here is what that means for pay, speed and volume hiring across the state.
Pennsylvania's unemployment rate is 3.7%, down from 4.4% a year earlier and below the U.S. rate of 4.2%. That is a real tightening in one year. Fewer people are actively looking, so the ones who are get more offers and decide faster.
Job growth is steady rather than explosive. Total nonfarm jobs rose +0.6% over the year, to 6.21 million, against a labor force of 6.66 million. The openings rate of 3.7% sits above the hires rate of 3.0%, and the quits rate of 1.8% suggests many workers are staying put. Employers have to win candidates who already have jobs, not just wait for applicants.
Pay is the other half of the picture. For several high-volume roles, Pennsylvania medians run below the national figures. That can help your budget, but it also means candidates compare offers closely. The sections below interpret each table and turn it into recruiting moves that fit this market.
Unemployment of 3.7%, below the U.S. rate of 4.2% and down from 4.4%, points to a tighter pool than a year ago. With openings at 3.7% and quits at 1.8%, expect to recruit people who are currently employed, so reply speed and a simple process matter.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, CES, JOLTS). "Preliminary" figures may be revised. Retrieved October 17, 2026.
| Occupation | 10th pct. | Median | 90th pct. | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales representatives of services | $17.92 | $31.00 | $64.41 | 39,920 |
| Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing | $18.74 | $31.79 | $63.66 | 51,270 |
| Telemarketers | $10.00 | $13.67 | $18.34 | 1,710 |
| Customer service representatives | $15.11 | $21.46 | $30.46 | 94,340 |
| Retail salespersons | $11.43 | $15.00 | $22.18 | 141,790 |
| Cashiers | $10.71 | $14.05 | $17.44 | 110,950 |
| Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers | $15.50 | $20.43 | $27.06 | 131,050 |
| Fast food and counter workers | $10.59 | $13.74 | $17.25 | 142,220 |
| Janitors and cleaners | $13.49 | $17.56 | $23.19 | 86,920 |
| Sales managers | $34.38 | $62.79 | $115.13 | 20,460 |
Many Pennsylvania medians sit below national levels, such as customer service reps at $21.46 versus $21.53 and cashiers at $14.05 versus $15.81, while laborers and freight movers run above at $20.43 versus $19.35. Services sales reps span $17.92 to $64.41, so how you explain base and commission shapes who applies.
1.42 million jobs · 22.9% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
With Private education and health services at 22.9% of jobs and growing +1.7%, aide, medical assistant and childcare roles face steady competition, so keep evergreen postings open and respond to applicants the same day.
1.13 million jobs · 18.2% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Trade, transportation, and utilities slipped −0.4%, which may free up some experienced warehouse, driver and retail workers, so re-engage past applicants and target people with logistics experience.
835,100 jobs · 13.5% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Professional and business services grew +0.6%, and contact-center and outbound sales roles here benefit from clear pay explanations given the wide spread between low and high earners.
584,900 jobs · 9.4% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Leisure and hospitality is the fastest-growing top sector at +2.2%, so servers, cooks and housekeepers will have options, and hiring workflows need to handle bursts of applicants without delays.
557,300 jobs · 9.0% of nonfarm employment · August 2026
Manufacturing grew +0.4% and holds 9.0% of jobs, so production and machine operator hiring stays steady and rewards fast shift-based interview scheduling.
Private education and health services is the largest sector at 22.9% of jobs and still growing at +1.7%, while Leisure and hospitality is growing fastest at +2.2%. Both depend on frequent, high-volume hiring of hourly staff, which puts pressure on screening and scheduling capacity.
The rules table summarizes state-level items on background checks, fair chance, minimum wage, non-competes and pay transparency as identified in the sources reviewed. This is general information, not legal advice; confirm current requirements, including any local ordinances, with the relevant agency or your counsel before changing your process.
Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act lets employers weigh felony and misdemeanor convictions only as they relate to the job, and requires written notice if a record contributes to a no-hire decision.
No statewide ban-the-box / fair chance requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (tipped cash wage $2.83); a House-passed bill to raise it is pending in the Senate and has not become law.
Pennsylvania has no general non-compete statute, but since January 1, 2025 most physicians, nurse practitioners and similar practitioners' non-competes are void unless one year or less (and the practitioner was not dismissed).
No statewide pay transparency requirement was identified in the sources we reviewed.
General information, not legal advice.
Employment rules change and have exceptions that depend on employer size, industry and facts. This summary reflects the sources shown as of the dates shown (legal sources checked October 15, 2026). Confirm requirements with the relevant agency or qualified counsel before acting.
Unemployment fell from 4.4% to 3.7%, so active job seekers are scarcer. Text new applicants soon after they apply, with consent, and offer an interview slot in the first message. Many hourly candidates respond to a text faster than to an email.
A quits rate of 1.8% means many workers are not leaving on their own. Make it easy for an employed person to say yes: short applications, evening and weekend interview times, and a clear start date. Reach back out to past applicants who were strong but not hired.
Services sales reps range from $17.92 to $64.41 an hour, and the median of $31.00 trails the U.S. figure of $33.65. State the base and the realistic commission range in plain terms. Candidates who can see the floor and the upside are more likely to apply and less likely to drop out.
Leisure and hospitality is growing +2.2% and Private education and health services +1.7%, both heavy on hourly roles. Set up status-based messages, self-service interview booking and reminders once, then reuse them for every location and opening. That keeps response times steady when applicant volume spikes.
Several Pennsylvania medians differ from national levels, such as retail salespersons at $15.00 versus $17.03 and laborers and freight movers at $20.43 versus $19.35. Benchmark each role to the state table before posting. Show the pay range in the posting so candidates can compare quickly.
Pennsylvania's tighter labor pool rewards employers who reach candidates first and keep them moving. Conversational SMS and automations let your team text applicants from one inbox and trigger follow-ups when a status changes. Self-service interview scheduling lets employed candidates book a time that works around their current shift, with automated reminders. For hospitality and health care openings that draw large applicant batches, bulk actions let you message and move groups of candidates at once instead of one by one. Each office can run the same process.
Unemployment is 3.7%, below the U.S. rate of 4.2% and down from 4.4% a year earlier. The openings rate of 3.7% is above the hires rate of 3.0%. Expect fewer active job seekers and more competition for each one.
The state minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. A bill to raise it has passed the House and is pending in the Senate but has not become law. Many employers pay well above the minimum to compete, so check the wage table for your role and confirm current requirements with the state agency or counsel.
Texting is a common way to reach hourly candidates quickly. Get clear opt-in consent before sending recruiting texts, identify your company in messages, and honor STOP or opt-out requests right away. Confirm your consent process with counsel.
Under the state's Criminal History Record Information Act, employers may weigh felony and misdemeanor convictions only as they relate to the job. If a record contributes to a decision not to hire, written notice is required. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm details with counsel.
No statewide pay transparency requirement was identified in the sources reviewed. Showing a pay range is still a practical choice because candidates compare offers closely. Check for any local rules that may apply where you hire.
Standardize the steps: a short application, an automatic first text, self-service interview booking and reminders. Leisure and hospitality and Private education and health services are both growing, so plan for applicant spikes. Group candidates by role and location so you can act on them in batches.
Sources and data currency
Labor data as of August 2026; wage data May 2025; rules checked October 15, 2026. Next scheduled review: January 15, 2027. This page is educational market information for employers.
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