State discovery · Pennsylvania
Explore the state’s landscapes, communities and practical routes into work.
An interactive region map
The clickable county names are directly below the map. Open “Explore All 67 Counties” and select a name to highlight it. You can also click a colored county on the map.
Go to the Clickable Counties NamesOn smaller screens, scroll sideways to explore the enlarged map.Select a region on the map or a name below to explore.
Pennsylvania offers opportunities to explore public history alongside a varied outdoor landscape. In Philadelphia, Independence National Historical Park preserves places connected with the founding of the United States, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. A visit can encourage thoughtful questions about the nation’s ideals, the people excluded from them and the changes that followed. The park’s interpretation gives those familiar names a fuller context than a photograph alone. Historical discovery need not end with a major landmark: the surrounding public spaces let you notice how present-day city life sits beside its preserved past.
On the Pennsylvania side of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, the river and surrounding hills offer a different rhythm. A trail or scenic stop can make room for observing the landscape at walking pace, while appropriately planned river recreation brings the water into an outing more directly. This public recreation area crosses the state line into New Jersey, reminding visitors that natural features follow their own geography. History and outdoor interests can both be part of getting to know Pennsylvania. You might begin with a city visit, then return for time along the river, learning which surroundings feel right as you consider a particular community and its work opportunities.
July 1, 2025 U.S. Census Bureau Vintage 2025 population estimates, combining incorporated places and whole townships; released May 2026.
Pennsylvania has cities, boroughs and townships. This list combines complete incorporated-place city/borough estimates with complete township minor-civil-division estimates, avoiding partial-city counts and double counting. County references distinguish municipalities with similar names. These are municipalities, not metropolitan areas or Census-designated places.
| Map Key | Municipality | Population Estimate | County Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | 1,574,281 | Philadelphia County |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | 307,632 | Allegheny County |
| 3 | Allentown | 126,044 | Lehigh County |
| 4 | Reading | 95,832 | Berks County |
| 5 | Erie | 91,838 | Erie County |
| 6 | Upper Darby Township | 85,458 | Delaware County |
| 7 | Bethlehem | 79,644 | Northampton County |
| 8 | Scranton | 75,514 | Lackawanna County |
| 9 | Lower Merion Township | 64,691 | Montgomery County |
| 10 | Bensalem Township | 62,783 | Bucks County |
| 11 | Abington Township | 58,656 | Montgomery County |
| 12 | Lancaster | 58,366 | Lancaster County |
| 13 | Lower Paxton Township | 55,564 | Dauphin County |
| 14 | Bristol Township | 54,063 | Bucks County |
| 15 | Millcreek Township | 52,680 | Erie County |
Markers represent Census internal points, not downtown addresses. City boundaries can extend across several counties.
Employment sectors and strategic economic priorities use different measures. This selection highlights useful routes into work; it is not a ranking by jobs or economic output. Industry size does not guarantee current openings.
Production combines equipment operation, quality assurance and business support.
Roles to Explore: Production associate, machine operator, QA inspector, maintenance technician, office coordinator.
Explore NJS Advanced Manufacturing PathwaysPatient care depends on clinical workers, facilities, records and administrative support.
Roles to Explore: Environmental services aide, patient access representative, medical assistant, nurse, records clerk.
Explore NJS Healthcare & Social Assistance PathwaysLife-science operations combine laboratory skills with regulated production and documentation.
Roles to Explore: Production associate, laboratory assistant, packaging operator, QA technician, regulatory assistant.
Explore NJS Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences PathwaysDistribution, freight and passenger services combine handling, scheduling and maintenance.
Roles to Explore: Warehouse associate, shipping clerk, dispatcher, CDL driver, mechanic.
Explore NJS Transportation & Warehousing PathwaysAgricultural products become prepared foods through mixing, packaging, sanitation and quality checks.
Roles to Explore: Mixing operator, packaging associate, sanitation worker, QA technician, shipping clerk.
Explore NJS Food & Beverage Production PathwaysDigital systems and data support many industries; AI duties require role-specific preparation.
Roles to Explore: IT support specialist, QA tester, data analyst, software developer, project assistant.
Explore NJS Technology, AI & Data PathwaysSchools need licensed educators alongside classroom, administrative and facilities support.
Roles to Explore: Classroom aide, substitute teacher, office assistant, custodian, teacher.
Explore NJS Education & Public Learning PathwaysAvailable nationwide · All 50 states & Washington, D.C.
American Job Centers can help you find local openings, connect with employers, prepare for interviews and explore training assistance. Basic employment help is free. Some training and additional services require eligibility approval and available funding. Services vary by center, and employment is not guaranteed.
Enter your city or ZIP code in the official finder. Contact the center to confirm services and appointment requirements.
Ask for more than résumé help:“Which employers are hiring near my city? Can you refer me to suitable openings? Are hiring events, paid training or on-the-job training available?”
WIOA means Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. It is a federal law supporting employment and training services nationwide, not an agency or a job board. American Job Centers bring together public workforce programs and partner services. Local names vary; in California they are called America’s Job Centers of California.
Centers can provide job listings, employer referrals, placement assistance, hiring events, skills assessments and career counseling. Eligible applicants may also receive approved training or other support. Ask your local center which services it provides; a referral does not guarantee an interview or a job.
Federal funding is allocated to states and local workforce areas, alongside other partner-program funding. Standard public job-search and referral services are free to job seekers and employers; employers do not pay a placement commission for these referrals. These are public workforce services rather than a commercial recruiting agency.
You can ask for basic job-search help without assuming you qualify for every WIOA-funded service. Staff determine eligibility for programs with additional requirements.
Official explanations: U.S. Department of Labor — WIOA · American Job Center services. Reviewed October 9, 2026.
Start with a local workforce team. Ask about training eligibility, accommodations, veteran priority, youth services, re-entry and support after prolonged unemployment.
Search by location and occupation, then confirm availability and requirements with the employer.
Open Pennsylvania Job BankAmerican Job CentersFind career help and ask about assessments, accessible appointments, training eligibility and supportive services.
Open Local Workforce CentersShort-Term ProgramsCompare credentials with your target occupation. Ask about eligible programs, costs, funding and completion requirements.
Open Training & Career PathwaysEarn While You LearnExplore registered paid work-based learning. Confirm sponsor registration, application requirements and current recruitment.
Open Registered ApprenticeshipsDedicated SupportAsk about priority of service and help translating military experience into civilian occupations.
Open Veteran Employment ServicesDisability Employment SupportAsk about preparing for, obtaining or keeping work, including assessment, accommodations and eligible training support.
Open Vocational RehabilitationAge 55+ ProgramsAsk about SCSEP for eligible unemployed, low-income adults age 55 and older. Local availability and funding vary.
Open Older-Worker Employment SupportOfficial Wage GuidanceCheck the applicable wage rate, coverage and exceptions. Use current official guidance for your work location.
Open Minimum Wage & Pay RightsLabor-Market InformationCompare local occupations, wages and projections. Projections describe possible trends, not current vacancies.
Open Regional Wages & OccupationsPublic EducationUse the public institution entries and follow official campus links for programs, admissions and careers.
Open Public UniversitiesPublic EducationExplore public community-college programs and campus career links. Check admission and credential requirements with each institution.
Open Public Community CollegesPlanning & AccountabilityFind official workforce planning, meetings and current priorities.
Open State Workforce BoardPublic EmployersExplore selected government employers in the NJS directory below.
Open City & County CareersEducation EmployersSearch the official NCES public district locator by city and state.
Open Public School DistrictsNJS Practical SupportPrepare for applications and ask your local center about re-entry referrals and work experience.
Open Returning After a Long AbsencePlan period & status: PY 2024–2027 (July 2024–June 2028). The official state planning page provides the 2026 Combined State Plan modification for public comment. The published modification was reviewed; a separate federal approval determination was not confirmed.
The modification describes industry partnerships and healthcare workforce work. It addresses teacher shortages and teacher apprenticeship; use regional occupation data to compare other documented needs.
Explore registered apprenticeship, pre-apprenticeship and short-term credentials tied to employers. Ask CareerLink staff about eligible training, occupational licenses and supportive services before enrolling.
The plan emphasizes veterans, people with disabilities, justice-involved workers and public-assistance participants. Ask about youth, older-worker and long-term unemployment referrals and describe barriers to participation.
Foundational digital literacy appears in the modification. Ask about computer access and instruction suited to your occupation; basic digital support and specialized AI training are different needs.
Pennsylvania uses 10 planning regions and 22 local workforce boards. Regional plans connect statewide strategy with local occupations, employer partnerships and service arrangements.
Contact PA CareerLink for job search and an individual assessment. Request veteran services or vocational rehabilitation when relevant, and discuss training eligibility before choosing a program.
Reviewed October 9, 2026. Original NJS descriptions use the official sources below. Boundaries, marker locations and populations use U.S. Census Bureau data. No third-party illustrated map, logo or photograph is reproduced.
Map and city-data sources checked October 10, 2026. Census representative points may fall in water where municipal boundaries include waterways.