Understanding the issue

The city does not have a terribly high unemployment rate -- but the city isn't creating jobs, either. It turns out that a shockingly high percentage of Philadelphians have given up:

45 percent of Philadelphians are not working or looking for work. That level of labor force particpation is abysmal when compared to other cities: We rank 96th out of the 100 largest cities in this measure. (The difficulties that ex-offenders have in finding jobs has something to do with that.)

The city's struggles with job creation are all the more difficult to handle when compared to the economic strength of the region, which is large and prosperous, and compared to some of the city's other economic successes. It's clear that the next mayor will need to develop a strategy to create and maintain higher-paying jobs in the city. (For related information, see our section on city taxes.)

A Tale of Two Cities

Getting Philadelphia's education levels - the number of people who have graduated from high school, for example, or have advanced degrees - up to equal the state's level would raise the city's potential tax base by $1.8 billion, or 10.5 percent.

That's the opportunity that Philadelphia could grasp if it can erase the divide between the education "haves" and "have-nots" detailed in the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board's groundbreaking report, "A Tale of Two Cities."

Read the Daily News story: "We need more Lindas" (4/3/07)

Read the Daily News editorial (4/3/07)

Compare the candidates' job creation plans

Dwight Evans' "Revitalizing Our Economy Neighborhood By Neighborhood"

Chaka Fattah's Jobs plan and his Opportunity Agenda

Michael Nutter's "Opportunity Now" agenda

Compare the candidates' plans to create jobs for ex-offenders

Read Brady's plan for breaking the cycle of recidivism

Read Evans' "Revitalizing Our Economy Neighborhood By Neighborhood" (skip to page 15)

Read Fattah's Jobs plan (skip to page 3)

Read Nutter's ex-offenders plan

Could more jobs = less violence?

A Daily News special report explores the issue, highlights programs that work -- and offers local businesses, in particular, some ideas for what they can do to support the effort.

READ MORE:

Introduction:
'Nothing stops a bullet like a job'

The problem:
Philly's real joblessness situation -- and how it contributes to violence

The other problems:
Ex-offenders find it difficult to get back to work
and How computerized job applications and lack of ID keep some from working

What's working:
A program to get young offenders back on track
School District programs that link careers to the classroom
Gateway to College becomes a salvation for dropouts
'Working Solutions' aims to get young people familiar with work
Congresso helps older workers, too

Other resources:
What businesses can do
Where job-seekers can get help

Comment on the special report here.

All you need to know -- we're stuck on zero

Philadelphia's employment growth, compared to other cities, 2000-2003 (from the Pennsylvania Economy League)

Daily News: Jill Porter | Poverty of ideas helps keep Philly poor (9/13/06)