Philadelphia has seen significant job growth in recent years, outperforming other major cities — but it’s not helping fill empty offices. A new report by Center City District, Philadelphia’s business improvement district, evaluated 15 years of data on office leasing and vacancy, job growth and the talent pipeline in the city and its surrounding suburbs. Much of the region’s job growth has been concentrated in healthcare and other sectors, where most employees do not work in offices. Industry sectors that typically drive office occupancy, such as finance, insurance and real estate, have stayed mostly static in Philadelphia over the past few years.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 9/17/2025