Contact: 
JoAnn Loviglio  
215.440.5546 
jloviglio@centercityphila.org 
pr@centercityphila.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City's employment recovery surpasses national average while downtown talent concentration reaches historic highs 

PHILADELPHIA (September 17, 2025) – Philadelphia has emerged as a standout performer in employment growth among major U.S. cities, according to a comprehensive new report examining 15 years of job market data. The Philadelphia Employment Report 2025, released today by the Center City District (CCD), reveals that despite ongoing challenges in the office sector, Philadelphia has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth in its overall employment base. 

The report shows Philadelphia's employment grew 13.6% since 2020, outperforming the 11.7% average of the nation's 25 most populous counties. This recovery rate significantly exceeds Philadelphia's own historical performance and places the city ahead of major metropolitan areas including San Francisco (2.4%), Washington (7.6%), Seattle (7.7%), and Los Angeles (10.7%). Only New York's 17.6% growth rate surpassed Philadelphia's among cities that experienced the steepest pandemic-related job losses. 

"Philadelphia's employment trajectory tells a story of both momentum and resilience," said Clint Randall, CCD vice president of economic development. "Our city has fundamentally strengthened its position as a regional employment leader and talent magnet. The challenge for our downtown is that this job and talent growth has not materially improved the office market as that entire sector has struggled to find stability in recent years." 

Key Findings: 

Employment Growth Leadership: Over the past five years, Philadelphia's job growth has outpaced all four Pennsylvania collar counties and the overall metropolitan region. The city's compound annual growth rate of 1.1% since 2009 demonstrates sustained momentum despite economic disruptions. 

Sector Diversification: The city's employment gains have been driven primarily by health care and social assistance, which now accounts for 32% of total jobs compared to 26% in 2009. This sector has grown 44% over the 15-year period, providing stability during economic volatility. 

Office Market Dynamics: While office-occupying sectors have remained relatively static with only 1% growth since 2020, Philadelphia has gained ground against suburban competitors. For the first time since 2009, Philadelphia surpassed Montgomery County in total office-sector employment in 2022, despite Montgomery County's decades-long dominance in the regional office economy. While the city’s relative performance has improved, total demand for office space remains well below the typical averages of pre-pandemic years. Notably, tenants leasing Center City space from surrounding suburbs and other cities, an emerging and encouraging trend in the years leading up to 2020, has dropped off considerably.  

Talent Concentration Advantage: Perhaps most significantly, Philadelphia has nearly doubled its population of college-educated residents to over 260,000 in 2023, with 70% of these degree holders aged 25 to 34. The Greater Center City and University City areas, representing just 8% of the city's land area, now house nearly one-third of Philadelphia's college-educated young professionals – approximately 50,000 people. Compared to the collar counties, Philadelphia’s 25- to 34-year-old degree holders talent pool is not only larger (2.5 times the size of Montgomery County and more than 4 times the size of the other counties), but it has also grown more than twice as fast since 2011.   

Competitive Positioning: Philadelphia's downtown office vacancy rate of 20.4% compares favorably to other major cities, remaining below suburban rates and significantly lower than markets like Denver (36.1%) or Austin (33.2%). The city joins Boston, New York, and Washington as the only major Northeast Corridor cities where downtown vacancy rates remain lower than suburban markets. 

Challenges and Opportunities: 

The report identifies key challenges affecting office market performance, including reduced demand for office space and concerns about downtown amenities and safety. However, it also highlights significant opportunities, particularly around Philadelphia's exceptional talent concentration and transit accessibility. 

"The data clearly shows that Philadelphia has strengthened its role as the talent capital of Greater Philadelphia, with the Center City and University City areas containing the highest concentration" Randall said. "Companies looking to attract and retain top talent, particularly younger professionals, will find no better location than our urban core. Engaging office tenants from across the region and the city is critical to increase the amount of demand for office space even as we also seek to reduce over-supply through conversions on the other side of the coin.” 

Looking Ahead: 

The report concludes with actionable recommendations for strengthening Philadelphia's competitive position, including extending downtown vibrancy, activating public spaces, and capitalizing on the city's transit-oriented advantages. With a looming regional transit funding crisis, the report argues that downtown locations become even more valuable for accessing the concentrated talent pool living in and around Center City. 

The comprehensive analysis draws on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, JLL commercial real estate research, and U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates, providing the most detailed picture to date of Philadelphia's employment landscape and competitive positioning. 

"This report demonstrates that Philadelphia has not just survived recent economic challenges – we've used them as a springboard for growth," Randall added. "Center City's combination of employment momentum, talent concentration, and urban amenities positions our downtown exceptionally well for continued success." 

The full Philadelphia Employment Report 2025 is available at centercityphila.org/employment. 

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Center City District, a private-sector organization dedicated to making Center City Philadelphia clean, safe and attractive, is committed to maintaining Center City’s competitive edge as a regional employment center, a quality place to live, and a premier regional destination for dining, shopping and cultural attractions. Find us at centercityphila.org