Pennsylvania Job Market Ranks Third-Worst for 2026
Business owners should review their local hiring strategies as the state ranks among the nation's lowest for job market performance.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Employment
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Pennsylvania ranked as the third-worst state for jobs in 2026 according to a WalletHub study that evaluated employment conditions across the country. The analysis examined factors such as unemployment rates, job growth, and work-related stress to determine state performance.
Why it matters
Business operators in Pennsylvania may find this ranking useful for benchmarking regional labor market conditions and cost-of-living variables against national averages. The report highlights how specific economic environment metrics like median income and commute times impact state-level competitiveness for hiring.
The study analyzed more than 30 factors to derive its 2026 rankings, placing Pennsylvania third from the bottom. Pennsylvania's median household income remains 9% below the national average for one-person households, while it sits 1% above the average for four-person households.
The players
WalletHub
A financial services company that produces data-driven personal finance and economic research reports.
Pennsylvania
The state government jurisdiction subject to the employment and economic market analysis.
Nebraska
The top-ranked state for job market performance in the 2026 study.
The details
The ranking methodology assessed job markets through a lens of job opportunities, employment growth, and stress-related metrics. These figures were further refined by weighing economic variables, including median annual income, starting salaries, and daily commute times, to score each state. While Pennsylvania reported an unemployment rate comparable to the national average, its total score across the 30 analyzed factors resulted in its bottom-tier ranking.
Timeline
The WalletHub job market study was conducted throughout 2026.
Nebraska achieved the sixth-lowest unemployment rate in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This study aggregates specific state-level performance metrics that extend beyond the standard unemployment figures provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly employment report. It highlights regional disparities in job market health that standard national snapshots often obscure.
Business owners in Pennsylvania should assess whether their local recruiting strategies need adjustment given the state's overall ranking for job-market stress and income metrics. Monitoring these state-level benchmarks can help in adjusting competitive compensation packages to attract talent.
The takeaway
The ranking serves as a signal for operators to compare their internal employee retention metrics against broader regional economic pressures. Review local wage competitiveness and stress-reduction programs against state-wide trends to maintain an edge in a challenging market.
Further reading
For broader trends in the state's labor market, visit Pennsylvania Employment.
More information
Access the full findings and ranking methodology in the WalletHub full job market report.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 29 News Philadelphia.
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