Promote access to good-paying jobs for all Pennsylvanians

"Being inclusive, being fair, and paying good wages are not just the right things to do, they are the smart things to do. And that is how we are going to grow the economy."
-Governor Tom Wolf

Why is this goal important?

To rebuild the middle class, Pennsylvania needs jobs that sustain families and strengthen communities. Good-paying jobs are a win-win for workers and the economy. They provide hardworking Pennsylvanians with more income to buy what they need, which means more dollars spent at local businesses.

What are we working on to reach this goal?

Governor Wolf believes that the commonwealth can partner with the private sector to promote robust economic growth, create and retain good jobs, and strengthen the middle class. After transforming the state’s budget from a severe shortfall to a record surplus over seven years, Governor Tom Wolf proposed new investments to build a successful future for Pennsylvania families. Governor Wolf addressed the gender pay gap by ending the practice of state agencies requiring a job applicant to provide salary history during the hiring process and expanded LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections for state employees. He reformed occupational licensure to help workers, cut red tape, and strengthen the workforce. Governor Tom Wolf has called for a minimum wage increase every year that he has been in office, and once again, called for the General Assembly to raise the wage for working Pennsylvanians. Additionally, in 2021, Governor Wolf announced $8.2 million was awarded to help Pennsylvanians with partially completed degrees or credentials attain the education they need to get better paying, in-demand jobs.

How are we doing?

The dashboard below presents several key measures aligned to Governor Wolf's job creation goal, as well as national and state benchmarks for comparison.

Related Measures

Average Weekly Wages

This chart shows the average weekly wages paid by Pennsylvania employers across all industries. Use the drop-down menus to explore average weekly wages in specific industries and counties. Click on "View Source Data" for more information on the types of compensation included in this measure.

Occupational Wages

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages represent total compensation paid during the calendar year, regardless of when services were performed. Included in wages are pay for vacation and other paid leave, bonuses, stock options, tips, the cash value of meals and lodging. Weekly Wages are derived by dividing total wages reported by average employment and then dividing the quotient by 52 weeks per year.

Menu