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City Cast Philly

Siani Colón

At the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Philadelphia’s annual State of the Economy event last week, Anna Paulson, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, shared findings from the chamber’s 

 detailing local impacts of national economic trends. Here are some key takeaways from Paulson’s presentation.

Most Jobs Created in 2025 Were in Healthcare

Philadelphia has not gone unscathed by the tightening job market, but our region is faring better than others. One of 

Philadelphia’s largest workforces is in healthcare

, representing 27% of employment compared to 16% nationally.

“Nearly 95% of net private job creation in 2025 occurred in a single sector: healthcare and social assistance,” Paulson said. This has helped the city stay afloat amid a national downturn in job creation.

2026’s Theme is ‘Waiting for Clarity’

That said, local employers aren’t hiring in massive droves either. When asked about the biggest problems employers faced in 2025, respondents overwhelmingly said it was uncertainty about regulations and government policies. This, along with other factors such as overhiring post-pandemic, led employers to hold back.

“As we go through 2026, both of the themes I discussed will be important: cautious optimism on inflation, and wanting greater clarity on what is pushing growth up and employment down,” Paulson said.

AI Hasn’t Greatly Impacted Workforce Yet

. However even though more than 75% of area employers said their companies were using AI, 61.9% of respondents found that it did not change their need for workers.

Employers Are Having a Hard Time Finding Qualified Workers

Despite the slowdown, employers are still hiring … if only they can find people fit for the jobs. About 30% of survey respondents said that they had difficulty hiring workers due to a lack of qualified applicants.

It’s not that Philadelphians aren’t applying at all, though. Paulson referenced the Federal Reserve Bank’s “

Understanding Economic Stability and Mobility in Philadelphia

” report from April 2025, saying that a third of economic mobility survey respondents — mostly lower and middle-income individuals — prioritized searching for better job opportunities. But factors such as health, caretaking responsibilities, and transportation made it difficult to work or look for jobs.

New data highlights how national policies are making employers more cautious.


What Is Philly’s Economic Outlook for 2026?

What Philadelphians have been wondering. We break down why things in Philadelphia are the way they are and how they work.

Philly, Explained

Last week, the Biden Administration announced it would put two new hydrogen energy hubs in Pennsylvania. Locally, the 

 will get up to $750 million to build up this new energy source for Southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.

 was on the City Cast Pittsburgh podcast explaining 

what you need to know about this fuel and the federal money behind it

. Here’s what we learned from that conversation:

Hydrogen is a clean alternative to natural gas.

 Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element, but it’s very scarce as a gas. More than 95% of hydrogen currently made in the U.S. is produced in a way that results in significant emissions.

But there's a better way. Clean hydrogen can be 

 like wind, solar, geothermal, and nuclear. Hydrogen hubs would be regional clusters of facilities that would make the hydrogen, store it, and regulate its distribution.

State lawmakers are excited about bringing billions of dollars to Pennsylvania — and with that money, 

, political clout, and short- and long-term jobs for locals. The Biden Administration sees these hubs as a way to reach global climate goals.

Some environmental advocates worry that without the right state regulations in place, these hydrogen hubs won’t be as environmentally friendly as they seem.

➕ For more on hydrogen hubs and what comes next, check out 

, and learn about the many colors in the hydrogen rainbow via 

her conversation with City Cast Pittsburgh

🎧 How clean is it, really?

The federal government is allocating up to $7 billion to build six to 10 hydrogen hubs across the country — and Pennsylvania lawmakers want in.

Hydrogen Hubs Are Coming to Pennsylvania

The Slinky is one of the most popular American toys. Here’s the story of how Philly manifested this cultural phenomenon.

In 1943, mechanical engineer Richard James was 

, testing tensions springs that would stabilize sensitive instruments on ships.

One day, James accidentally knocked a box of spare parts off his desk, and watched in amusement as a loose spring “walked” down a series of books, a tabletop, and finally to the floor. Inspired, James spent the next two years perfecting the design.

In 1945, Gimbels Department Store let James demonstrate the Slinky’s moves for customers, and it quickly became a hit. Priced at just $1, he sold all 400 of them within an hour and a half.

James invented the slinky, but it was his wife Betty, who named it, developed the well-known 

, and ultimately made the company a success.

In 1960, the Slinky company was struggling with debt, and James left his family to join an evangelical group in Bolivia, leaving Betty with a company on the verge of bankruptcy.

Betty didn’t give up. She took out a mortgage on her house and 

 in 1963. Once again, orders began rushing in. To date, more than 300 million Slinkies have been sold.

The Slinky is one of the most popular American toys. Here’s the story of how Philly manifested this cultural phenomenon. 

 How Philadelphia Invented The Slinky

People, places, and scenes from Philadelphia's past.

Philly History

 is the owner and illustrator of local pet brand 

. Kuang creates custom pet portraits, pet apparel, toys, and accessories, and clothes for pet parents.

How did you first get into art/sketching?

“From my earliest memory, I was always drawing, reading, and exploring the depths of my imagination. Since then, I’ve created murals, joined every art class in my academic career, was a fashion designer for a bit, and wrote professionally for nearly a decade. I’ve since traded paint for an Apple Pencil and illustrate and design on an iPad.”

When did you launch Char & Whiskers and how has the business been growing?

“I launched about a year ago with the desire to enhance the relationships between pet parents and their pets. A single illustration for a friend transformed into illustrating 1000+ pets and growing. What was originally just art is now expanding into other pet products that can be found in stores across the country.”

What’s your favorite part about being able to create art of people’s pets?

“When I started, I made a conscious effort to build real connections with my audience and customers. Because of that, I’ve been overwhelmed with the positivity that this job brings. I feel very blessed to work with lovely people from all over the world, hearing countless stories about their pets and how much joy they bring. It’s truly what makes doing this so fulfilling.”

In Conversation With Artist Jie Yi Kuang

What Philadelphia celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Philly Public Figures

3 Questions With

Health & wellness is always in season, and Philly has some incredible businesses that cater to everyone. Here are my top three:


 is a Black-owned apothecary that creates intentional, plant-based remedies, such as tea blends for the immune system, and herbal remedies for healthy digestion. 


Sisters Nakia and Taahirah Stith have been using food as medicine for over 30 years, and just opened their storefront last November.


 is a diverse women’s group offering healing hikes to increase physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. It was created to build a strong network of like-minded women who want to prioritize self-care and community care in nature. 


Each month, they host a healing hike, as well as events like Reiki meditation, yoga classes, and journaling workshops.


 is a “method-less” fitness boutique that aims to cater to every individual’s workout preferences. It offers a wide variety of classes, including yoga, mobility dance fitness, cardio, and more. 


Kate and James Connelly opened the center last December, with the goal of creating a space for fitness enthusiasts who hate monotony, but crave community.

business

What Is Philly’s Economic Outlook for 2026?

Hydrogen Hubs Are Coming to Pennsylvania

How Philadelphia Invented The Slinky

Latest articles

What Is Philly’s Economic Outlook for 2026?

Hydrogen Hubs Are Coming to Pennsylvania

How Philadelphia Invented The Slinky

In Conversation With Artist Jie Yi Kuang

Best Health & Wellness Businesses in Philly

Latest articles

In Conversation With Artist Jie Yi Kuang

Best Health & Wellness Businesses in Philly