A tight labor market with steady growth and historically low unemployment - those are the findings in the new "State of Working Pennsylvania" report. In July, Pennsylvania s unemployment rate was 3.5%, compared with 4.3% a year ago. Report co-author Stephen Herzenberg, an economist and executive director of the Keystone Research Center, said the strong economy should benefit workers even more looking forward. .
The funding gap between the state s poorest and wealthiest school districts is widening, with potentially dire consequences for students and communities, according to new data from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy explains year after year, state budgets passed by lawmakers have eroded the amount of money that goes into the formula to help equalize school funding. He added now, the gap between rich and poor school districts has reached levels not seen since the 1980s, when the state Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. .
A new report analyzes salary data and the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has on the workforce of child-welfare, juvenile-justice and children s mental and behavioral health organizations across Pennsylvania. The report provides an overview of the industry s compensation structure from entry-level positions through executive positions. Abigail Wilson, director of child welfare, juvenile-justice and education services for the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services explained her group identifies workforce development as one of its top public-policy priorities because of significant recruitment and retention challenges. .