Pennsylvania's private sector lost 113,600 jobs while state and local governments added 40,200 positions between 2000 and 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
At the same time, public-sector wages exceed those for comparable positions in the private sector.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Pennsylvania's public-sector employees are, on average, better paid than private-sector workers in similar occupations in the same geographic area, even before the public sector's more generous health-care and pension benefits are included.
| Public and Private Sector Mean Hourly Wages, by Occupation | ||||
| Management | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Private Sector | Public Sector (State & Local) |
Percent Difference | Report Date |
| Philadelphia Region | $37.03 | $37.08 | 0.14% | Jan-09 |
| York Area | $29.63 | $33.01 | 11.41% | Oct-08 |
| Pittsburgh Area | $29.84 | $37.02 | 24.06% | Mar-09 |
| Reading Area | $27.14 | $34.83 | 28.33% | Jan-09 |
| Johnstown Area | $22.88 | $26.00 | 13.64% | Jun-09 |
| Service | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Private Sector | Public Sector (State & Local) |
Percent Difference | Report Date |
| Philadelphia Region | $11.56 | $23.37 | 102.16% | Jan-09 |
| York Area | $8.72 | $16.25 | 86.35% | Oct-08 |
| Pittsburgh Area | $9.71 | $19.16 | 97.32% | Mar-09 |
| Reading Area | $10.20 | $15.79 | 54.80% | Jan-09 |
| Johnstown Area | $9.48 | $18.53 | 95.46% | Jun-09 |
| Sales and Office | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Private Sector | Public Sector (State & Local) | Percent Difference | Report Date |
| Philadelphia Region | $16.83 | $19.77 | 17.47% | Jan-09 |
| York Area | $14.08 | $15.05 | 6.89% | Oct-08 |
| Pittsburgh Area | $14.46 | $17.42 | 20.47% | Mar-09 |
| Reading Area | $15.72 | $17.57 | 11.77% | Jan-09 |
| Johnstown Area | $13.62 | $12.34 | -9.40% | Jun-09 |
| Natural Resources, Construction and Maintenance | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Private Sector | Public Sector (State & Local) |
Percent Difference | Report Date |
| Philadelphia Region | $22.18 | $22.35 | 0.77% | Jan-09 |
| York Area | $18.98 | NA | Oct-08 | |
| Pittsburgh Area | $18.59 | $17.86 | -3.93% | Mar-09 |
| Reading Area | $17.23 | $19.01 | 10.33% | Jan-09 |
| Johnstown Area | $19.10 | NA | Jun-09 | |
| Production, Transportation and Material | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Private Sector | Public Sector (State & Local) |
Percent Difference | Report Date |
| Philadelphia Region | $16.72 | $19.86 | 18.78% | Jan-09 |
| York Area | $14.94 | NA | Oct-08 | |
| Pittsburgh Area | $17.57 | $16.21 | -7.74% | Mar-09 |
| Reading Area | $15.65 | NA | Jan-09 | |
| Johnstown Area | $14.56 | NA | Jun-09 | |
| Source: www.bls.gov/ncs/ocs/compub.htm#PA | ||||
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For more on Public Employee Pensions and Benefits visit www.CommonwealthFoundation.org
The Commonwealth Foundation (www.CommonwealthFoundation.org) is an independent, non-profit research and educational institute.
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RELATED : TAXES & SPENDING, PENSION REFORM, UNIONS & LABOR POLICY