Total nonfarm employment for the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, metropolitan area increased by 94,000 over the year in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See chart 1 and table 1.) Regional Commissioner Alexandra Hall Boveenoted that the local rate of job gain, 3.1 percent, compared to the 2.1 percent national increase. (All data in this release are not seasonally adjusted; accordingly, over-the-year analysis is used throughout.)

  

View Chart Data

Chart 1. Over-the-year net change for total nonfarm employment in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, July 2020–July 2023

Period	Net change (in thousands)
Jul 2020	-275.5
Aug 2020	-250.6
Sep 2020	-225.4
Oct 2020	-202.5
Nov 2020	-209.6
Dec 2020	-216.7
Jan 2021	-200.8
Feb 2021	-198.3
Mar 2021	-154.0
Apr 2021	345.0
May 2021	295.2
Jun 2021	225.0
Jul 2021	175.9
Aug 2021	152.9
Sep 2021	127.2
Oct 2021	127.5
Nov 2021	140.9
Dec 2021	168.9
Jan 2022	153.2
Feb 2022	173.5
Mar 2022	165.5
Apr 2022	163.9
May 2022	160.7
Jun 2022	151.9
Jul 2022	144.1
Aug 2022	144.3
Sep 2022	144.7
Oct 2022	124.1
Nov 2022	109.4
Dec 2022	96.1
Jan 2023	107.9
Feb 2023	88.1
Mar 2023	81.7
Apr 2023	83.8
May 2023	91.7
Jun 2023	104.9
Jul 2023	94.0

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, is made up of four metropolitan divisions—separately identifiable employment centers within the greater metropolitan area. Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA, with 37 percent of the metropolitan area’s total nonfarm employment, gained 35,300 jobs over the year, and Philadelphia, PA, which accounted for 32 percent of the area’s employment, added 35,900 jobs since July 2022. Camden, NJ, with 19 percent of area employment, gained 14,700 jobs. Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ had 376,200 jobs as of July 2023, which made up 12 percent of the area’s employment.

In Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, education and health services had the largest gain (+35,200 jobs) among the metropolitan area’s private-industry supersectors. (See chart 2.) Most of the employment added in this supersector was concentrated in the health care and social assistance sector (+28,600 jobs). The 5.3-percent rise in the metropolitan area’s education and health services supersector compared to the 4.1-percent increase on a national level.

  

View Chart Data

Chart 2. Over-the-year net change for industry supersector employment in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, July 2023

Industry	Net change (in thousands)
Education and health services*	35.2
Leisure and hospitality*	24.5
Professional and business services	8.6
Other services	6.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities	4.7
Mining, logging, and construction	4.4
Manufacturing	2.3
Financial activities	2.0
Information	0.7
Note: An asterisk indicates statistical significance at the 90-percent confidence level. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Leisure and hospitality increased by 24,500 jobs over the year in the metropolitan area, with all four divisions adding jobs. The majority of the employment gain in this supersector was in the accommodation and food services sector (up 15,700 jobs). The metropolitan area had a 8.9-percent gain compared to the 3.9-percent increase for the nation.

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, was 1 of the nation’s 12 largest metropolitan statistical areas in July 2023. All 12 areas gained jobs over the year. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA, had the largest increase (+227,000), followed by Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX (+178,600), and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (+152,600). Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, had the smallest increase (+48,800), closely followed by Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (+52,300), and Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ (+52,800), among the largest areas. (See table 2 and chart 3.)

Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, had a 4.4-percent rate of job gain. The rates of job gain in the remaining 11 areas ranged from 3.1 percent in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD, to 1.4 percent in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI.

  

View Chart Data

Chart 3. Over-the-year net change in total nonfarm employment for the 12 largest metropolitan areas, July 2023 (in thousands)

Area	Net change (in thousands)
New York*	227.0
Dallas*	178.6
Los Angeles*	152.6
Houston*	96.8
Philadelphia*	94.0
Boston*	81.1
Miami*	77.1
Chicago*	64.5
San Francisco*	62.9
Phoenix*	52.8
Atlanta*	52.3
Washington*	48.8
Note: An asterisk indicates statistical significance at the 90-percent confidence level. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Metropolitan Area Employment and Unemployment release for August 2023 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

This release presents nonfarm payroll employment estimates from the CES program. The CES survey is a Federal-State cooperative endeavor between State employment security agencies and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Definitions. Employment data refer to persons on establishment payrolls who receive pay for any part of the pay period which includes the 12th of the month. Persons are counted at their place of work rather than at their place of residence; those appearing on more than one payroll are counted on each payroll. Industries are classified on the basis of their principal activity in accordance with the 2022 version of the North American Industry Classification System.

Method of estimation. CES State and Area employment data are produced using several estimation procedures. Where possible these data are produced using a "weighted link relative" estimation technique in which a ratio of current-month weighted employment to that of the previous-month weighted employment is computed from a sample of establishments reporting for both months. The estimates of employment for the current month are then obtained by multiplying these ratios by the previous month's employment estimates. The weighted link relative technique is utilized for data series where the sample size meets certain statistical criteria. For some employment series, the estimates are produced with a model that uses direct sample estimates (described above) combined with other regressors to compensate for smaller sample sizes.

Annual revisions. Employment estimates are adjusted annually to a complete count of jobs, called benchmarks, derived principally from tax reports which are submitted by employers who are covered under state unemployment insurance (UI) laws. The benchmark information is used to adjust the monthly estimates between the new benchmark and the preceding one and also to establish the level of employment for the new benchmark month. Thus, the benchmarking process establishes the level of employment, and the sample is used to measure the month-to-month changes in the level for the subsequent months. Information on recent benchmark revisions is available in the CES State and Area benchmark article.

Reliability of the estimates. The estimates presented in this release are based on sample surveys, administrative data, and modeling and, thus, are subject to sampling and other types of errors. Sampling error is a measure of sampling variability—that is, variation that occurs by chance because a sample rather than the entire population is surveyed. Survey data also are subject to nonsampling errors, such as those which can be introduced into the data collection and processing operations. Estimates not directly derived from sample surveys are subject to additional errors resulting from the specific estimation processes used. The sums of individual items may not always equal totals shown in the same tables due to rounding.

Employment estimates. Changes in metropolitan area nonfarm payroll employment are cited in the analysis of this release only if they have been determined to be statistically significant at the 90-percent confidence level. Reliability of state and area estimates for the total nonfarm employment series are available for metropolitan areas and metropolitan divisions.

Area definitions. The substate area data published in this news release reflect the delineations issued by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget on April 10, 2018. The 12 metropolitan areas discussed in this release are the metropolitan areas with the largest population according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties in New Jersey; New Castle County in Delaware; and Cecil County in Maryland.

• The Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division includes Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties in New Jersey.

• The Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division includes Delaware and Philadelphia Counties in Pennsylvania.

• The Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA Metropolitan Division includes Bucks, Chester, and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania.

• The Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division includes New Castle County in Delaware; Cecil County in Maryland; and Salem County in New Jersey.

Additional information

Employment data from the CES program are available on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/sae/.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Telecommunications Relay Service: 7-1-1.

Table 1. Employees on nonfarm payrolls by industry supersector, Philadelphia metropolitan area and its components, not seasonally adjusted (numbers in thousands)

Area	Back data	Jul 2022	May 2023	Jun 2023	Jul 2023	Jul 2022 to Jul 2023
						Net change	Percent change
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area
Total nonfarm		3,010.8	3,108.1	3,123.5	(p)3,104.8	(p)94.0	(p)3.1
Mining, logging, and construction		127.3	128.5	130.9	(p)131.7	(p)4.4	(p)3.5
Manufacturing		181.1	182.2	182.8	(p)183.4	(p)2.3	(p)1.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities		548.1	550.5	554.7	(p)552.8	(p)4.7	(p)0.9
Information		55.0	54.7	55.7	(p)55.7	(p)0.7	(p)1.3
Financial activities		228.9	228.9	230.8	(p)230.9	(p)2.0	(p)0.9
Professional and business services		501.2	510.9	513.4	(p)509.8	(p)8.6	(p)1.7
Education and health services		660.7	705.6	696.3	(p)695.9	(p)35.2	(p)5.3
Leisure and hospitality		276.1	285.1	297.3	(p)300.6	(p)24.5	(p)8.9
Other services		121.0	123.3	126.8	(p)127.0	(p)6.0	(p)5.0
Government		311.4	338.4	334.8	(p)317.0	(p)5.6	(p)1.8
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division
Total nonfarm		970.2	1,012.1	1,009.3	(p)1,006.1	(p)35.9	(p)3.7
Mining, logging, and construction		25.9	26.0	26.6	(p)26.9	(p)1.0	(p)3.9
Manufacturing		32.5	32.4	32.5	(p)32.6	(p)0.1	(p)0.3
Trade, transportation, and utilities		132.4	133.6	134.1	(p)133.9	(p)1.5	(p)1.1
Information		19.9	19.7	20.1	(p)20.1	(p)0.2	(p)1.0
Financial activities		65.1	64.4	64.8	(p)65.3	(p)0.2	(p)0.3
Professional and business services		144.7	147.2	148.2	(p)147.7	(p)3.0	(p)2.1
Education and health services		296.2	322.6	313.4	(p)313.7	(p)17.5	(p)5.9
Leisure and hospitality		93.0	99.4	101.9	(p)101.9	(p)8.9	(p)9.6
Other services		39.4	40.5	41.6	(p)41.9	(p)2.5	(p)6.3
Government		121.1	126.3	126.1	(p)122.1	(p)1.0	(p)0.8
Philadelphia City, PA
Total nonfarm		733.7	767.3	765.0	(p)763.1	(p)29.4	(p)4.0
Mining, logging, and construction		12.8	13.1	13.2	(p)13.2	(p)0.4	(p)3.1
Manufacturing		19.2	19.2	19.2	(p)19.3	(p)0.1	(p)0.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities		89.2	89.8	90.5	(p)90.4	(p)1.2	(p)1.3
Information		16.8	16.7	17.0	(p)17.0	(p)0.2	(p)1.2
Financial activities		47.7	47.1	47.3	(p)47.8	(p)0.1	(p)0.2
Professional and business services		110.5	112.3	113.2	(p)112.3	(p)1.8	(p)1.6
Education and health services		239.5	261.6	254.6	(p)255.0	(p)15.5	(p)6.5
Leisure and hospitality		70.1	76.7	78.2	(p)78.2	(p)8.1	(p)11.6
Other services		28.1	29.1	29.8	(p)30.0	(p)1.9	(p)6.8
Government		99.8	101.7	102.0	(p)99.9	(p)0.1	(p)0.1
Delaware County, PA
Total nonfarm		236.5	244.8	244.3	(p)243.0	(p)6.5	(p)2.7
Mining, logging, and construction		13.1	12.9	13.4	(p)13.7	(p)0.6	(p)4.6
Manufacturing		13.3	13.2	13.3	(p)13.3	(p)0.0	(p)0.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities		43.2	43.8	43.6	(p)43.5	(p)0.3	(p)0.7
Information		3.1	3.0	3.1	(p)3.1	(p)0.0	(p)0.0
Financial activities		17.4	17.3	17.5	(p)17.5	(p)0.1	(p)0.6
Professional and business services		34.2	34.9	35.0	(p)35.4	(p)1.2	(p)3.5
Education and health services		56.7	61.0	58.8	(p)58.7	(p)2.0	(p)3.5
Leisure and hospitality		22.9	22.7	23.7	(p)23.7	(p)0.8	(p)3.5
Other services		11.3	11.4	11.8	(p)11.9	(p)0.6	(p)5.3
Government		21.3	24.6	24.1	(p)22.2	(p)0.9	(p)4.2
Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA Metropolitan Division
Total nonfarm		1,110.5	1,139.6	1,150.8	(p)1,145.8	(p)35.3	(p)3.2
Mining, logging, and construction		59.2	59.9	61.7	(p)60.2	(p)1.0	(p)1.7
Manufacturing		91.1	91.1	91.6	(p)91.8	(p)0.7	(p)0.8
Trade, transportation, and utilities		202.0	203.0	204.3	(p)204.3	(p)2.3	(p)1.1
Information		26.2	26.4	26.9	(p)26.9	(p)0.7	(p)2.7
Financial activities		89.9	90.7	91.7	(p)91.3	(p)1.4	(p)1.6
Professional and business services		222.6	228.3	229.6	(p)229.3	(p)6.7	(p)3.0
Education and health services		200.4	211.5	210.6	(p)209.1	(p)8.7	(p)4.3
Leisure and hospitality		96.4	96.1	101.0	(p)104.3	(p)7.9	(p)8.2
Other services		46.7	47.3	49.4	(p)49.6	(p)2.9	(p)6.2
Government		76.0	85.3	84.0	(p)79.0	(p)3.0	(p)3.9
Camden, NJ Metropolitan Division
Total nonfarm		562.0	576.6	584.3	(p)576.7	(p)14.7	(p)2.6
Mining, logging, and construction		24.5	23.4	23.6	(p)25.1	(p)0.6	(p)2.4
Manufacturing		40.6	40.8	40.8	(p)41.0	(p)0.4	(p)1.0
Trade, transportation, and utilities		136.8	136.2	138.5	(p)137.0	(p)0.2	(p)0.1
Information		6.0	5.9	6.0	(p)6.0	(p)0.0	(p)0.0
Financial activities		29.9	28.9	29.2	(p)29.1	(p)-0.8	(p)-2.7
Professional and business services		80.8	81.9	82.7	(p)81.9	(p)1.1	(p)1.4
Education and health services		102.6	109.3	109.8	(p)110.6	(p)8.0	(p)7.8
Leisure and hospitality		52.7	54.2	57.2	(p)57.1	(p)4.4	(p)8.3
Other services		20.9	21.2	21.6	(p)21.4	(p)0.5	(p)2.4
Government		67.2	74.8	74.9	(p)67.5	(p)0.3	(p)0.4
Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division
Total nonfarm		368.1	379.8	379.1	(p)376.2	(p)8.1	(p)2.2
Mining, logging, and construction		17.7	19.2	19.0	(p)19.5	(p)1.8	(p)10.2
Manufacturing		16.9	17.9	17.9	(p)18.0	(p)1.1	(p)6.5
Trade, transportation, and utilities		76.9	77.7	77.8	(p)77.6	(p)0.7	(p)0.9
Information		2.9	2.7	2.7	(p)2.7	(p)-0.2	(p)-6.9
Financial activities		44.0	44.9	45.1	(p)45.2	(p)1.2	(p)2.7
Professional and business services		53.1	53.5	52.9	(p)50.9	(p)-2.2	(p)-4.1
Education and health services		61.5	62.2	62.5	(p)62.5	(p)1.0	(p)1.6
Leisure and hospitality		34.0	35.4	37.2	(p)37.3	(p)3.3	(p)9.7
Other services		14.0	14.3	14.2	(p)14.1	(p)0.1	(p)0.7
Government		47.1	52.0	49.8	(p)48.4	(p)1.3	(p)2.8
Footnotes (p) Preliminary
SOURCE: Current Employment Statistics - National - State and Metropolitan Area Return to Mid-Atlantic Information Office Homepage