The State of Unemployment and Economic Growth in Philadelphia (and Why My Drumsticks Keep Bouncing)

okay, so it's drizzling. not like a cute, misty drizzle, more like the sky is just…sad. reminds me of that gig in Atlantic City last month. anyway, philly. everyone keeps asking if it's a good time to move here, or if it's, like, actually getting better. i'm a touring drummer, right? i see a lot of cities. and philly's…complicated.

let's talk numbers, because i guess i have to. the unemployment rate in philly as of october 2023 is hovering around 4.7%. which, honestly, isn't terrible. it's lower than it was during the peak of the pandemic, but it's still higher than the national average. i was chatting with a sound guy at the TLA last week - he said the real issue isn't finding a job, it's finding one that pays enough to actually live here. and he's not wrong. rent is…a joke. a bad joke. i saw a studio in fishtown listed for $1800. eighteen hundred. for a space you could practically play a drum solo in, but not actually live in.

and it's not just rent. everything's going up. groceries, utilities, even the price of a decent cheesesteak (don't even get me started on the debate between pat's and genos - it's a rabbit hole). i was scrolling through r/Philadelphia the other day and someone was complaining about how much it costs to park downtown. apparently, it's cheaper to fly to baltimore and take the train back. which…is probably true.

but here's the thing. philly has energy. it's gritty, it's real, and there's a creative scene here that's unlike anything else. you can find live music every night of the week, from jazz clubs in south street to punk shows in fishtown. the art scene is huge, and there are always new galleries and studios popping up. i've been checking out some of the murals in the mural arts program - seriously impressive. https://www.muralarts.org/


*overheard gossip #1: "yo, did you hear they're opening another luxury condo building in old city? like we need more of those."

so, is the economy growing? kinda. there's a lot of development happening, especially in center city and university city. but it feels like that growth isn't benefiting everyone. it's creating a city that's increasingly divided between the haves and the have-nots. i was talking to a barista at La Colombe (because, caffeine) and she said she's working two jobs just to make ends meet. it's rough.

there are some bright spots, though. the healthcare industry is booming, and there's a growing tech scene. the university of pennsylvania and drexel are major employers, and they're attracting a lot of talent to the city. i've seen a lot of startups setting up shop in the navy yard. https://www.navyyard.com/ and honestly, the food scene is insane. you can get anything you want here, from pho to pierogies. i recently stumbled upon a tiny ethiopian restaurant in west philly that was mind-blowing. https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Ethiopian+Restaurants&find_loc=Philadelphia%2C+PA

overheard gossip #2: "i heard the rent control thing is going nowhere fast. the city council is all talk."

and let's not forget the safety issue. philly has a reputation for being a dangerous city, and unfortunately, that reputation isn't entirely unfounded. there's been a spike in gun violence in recent years, and it's something that everyone is talking about. i try to be aware of my surroundings, especially when i'm walking around at night. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g60958-Philadelphia_Pennsylvania-Vacation.html

overheard gossip #3: "don't even think* about leaving your bike unlocked anywhere near temple."

so, what's the verdict? is philly a good place to live? it depends. if you're looking for a cheap and easy life, this probably isn't the place for you. but if you're looking for a city with character, with a thriving arts scene, and with a sense of community, then philly might just be the place for you. just be prepared to hustle, and maybe invest in a really good pair of walking shoes. and earplugs. because sometimes, the city just…roars. and my drumsticks keep bouncing.

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