A recent Pew Charitable Trust study found that Philadelphia has fewer middle-wage jobs — which pay between $18 and $27 an hour — than its peer cities, writes Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza for WHYY.
In 2019, the density of middle-wage jobs in Philadelphia was 758 out of 1,000 working-age residents, according to U.S. Census data crunched by Pew Charitable Trust.
That’s lower than New York City, Baltimore, Nashville, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
This has led to a debate on whether a college degree and the debt that comes with it is worth it for the next generation workforce, or if a vocational trade or apprenticeship is the better path.
Despite various challenges, Le’Yondo Dunn, CEO of YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School, noted that there is a renewed sense of optimism among leaders in Philly.
“I think the city is in a moment right now where everyone who is in a seat to impact change is thinking about how we can collectively work together,” Dunn said, adding that success would be a team effort. “The work related to workforce development programming is complex.”
While experience is often a huge sticking point, some entry-level job employers want younger, more recent graduates where experience may not be as present.
Read more about the challenges and opportunities in middle-wage jobs in Philly in WHYY.
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