Working in Philadelphia

Expats working in Philadelphia will find themselves in the economic centre of Pennsylvania and one of the top ten largest metropolitan economies in the USA. Competition for jobs is high in Philadelphia, and while not impossible, finding employment can be difficult. Despite this, those who can secure work will be glad to know that salaries in Philadelphia are slightly higher than the national average.

Job market in Philadelphia

Major industries in Philadelphia include education, healthcare, technology, finance and tourism. The city is also home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Comcast, Crown Holdings and Aramark.

The best performing sectors in the city are medicine and education, accounting for almost a third of the jobs in Philadelphia, with a large percentage of private employers coming from those industries. The University of Pennsylvania is the region’s largest employer, with the School District of Philadelphia not far behind. The Comcast Corporation, American Airlines and Allied Barton Security Services also employ significant numbers of workers. 

Finding a job in Philadelphia

Expats looking for work in Philadelphia and who have the necessary qualifications would do well to look for jobs in the city's thriving healthcare industry or the education sector.

Online job portals or recruitment agencies can be consulted when looking for a job. Networking and making connections both online and in person can also go a long way to securing work. As is the case when seeking employment elsewhere in the USA, foreign nationals require a visa to work in Philadelphia.

Work culture in Philadelphia

As with many East Coast cities, people often log long hours in Philadelphia. This often comes with a 'work hard, play hard' mentality, meaning, they make up for the long hours of work with making the most of their free time. 

That said, a good work culture is important to business professionals in Philadelphia. This includes things like flexibility and benefits such as health insurance, paid leave and paternal leave. A comfortable work environment is also important to a lot of people in Philadelphia. Due to this, companies are forced to adapt to keep their employees, meaning a lot of companies in Philadelphia have a great work culture and employees are proud to work there. 

As with the rest of the US, business in Philadelphia is also less formal and hierarchical than in many other countries. The approach to business dress and communication is generally rather relaxed, although this does depend on the company.