Recent Media Coverage

The Philadelphia Inquirer – Labor Day Parade a call to fight for workers; The 38th annual parade in South Philly brought out thousands of teachers, tradespeople, and technicians.

Thousands of union workers marched in Philadelphia’s annual Labor Day Parade, calling for unity in the face of growing challenges to workers’ rights. The Keystone Research Center supports this movement by providing data on the dangers of cutting federal jobs in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

FOX43 Harrisburg – $10 billion in lost wages | Report highlights policy failures hurting Pa. workers

By Ian Thompson

FOX43 covers our State of Working Pennsylvania 2025, where we show that Pennsylvania’s economy weakening for workers, with flat wages, higher unemployment and policy shifts threatening job security.

NorthCentralPA.com — New PA Labor Report Reveals Slower Economy for Workers

By Danielle Smith, Keystone News Service
This labor report uncovers how Pennsylvania workers are feeling the squeeze, with sluggish wage growth and tighter job market dynamics. The Keystone Research Center’s own State of Working Pennsylvania 2025 data informed much of the reporting—especially KRC’s findings that job growth has slowed, layoff rates are rising, and worker bargaining power is diminishing.

WHYY — Labor Day Festival in South Philadelphia Draws Unions and Community Together

By Meir Rinde
The Labor Day festival in South Philly became a lively platform for union solidarity and public messaging, with labor leaders calling out federal rollbacks on worker rights. The Keystone Research Center supported this civic energy by sharing research on shifting labor conditions and advocating for policies that strengthen worker protections in line with today’s organizing efforts.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette — Labor Day in Downtown Pittsburgh: Workers, Unions and a Changing Economy

By Steve Bohnel
Downtown Pittsburgh’s Labor Day events spotlighted both pride in union traditions and economic transitions, including steel’s transformation and new AI investments. The Keystone Research Center contributed critical context by highlighting how the Nippon Steel–U.S. Steel deal could reshape labor opportunity—if public policy protects worker rights amid the shift to green steel and tech-centered investment.

The Philadelphia Inquirer — Report: PA Workers Losing Leverage in Trump-Era Economy

By Ariana Perez-Castells
Drawing from KRC’s State of Working Pennsylvania 2025 report, the article outlines how PA workers face eroding wage growth, rising costs, and diminished bargaining power despite low unemployment. KRC’s analysis underscores the urgency for policy reforms like minimum wage increases and enhanced labor protections to preserve worker gains.

PennLive — Labor Researchers Warn of Brewing Trouble in PA’s Economy as Tariffs Shift

By Oliver Morrison
PennLive reports on concerns from labor researchers—especially KRC—that Pennsylvania’s economy is losing momentum thanks to tariff disruptions and reduced clean energy funding. The Keystone Research Center provides data showing how these federal policy shifts are slowing job growth and increasing economic instability for workers across the Commonwealth.

Bradford Era — Working Pennsylvanians Deserve Better

By Bernie Gallagher
In his Labor Day op-ed, Gallagher advocates for stronger worker protections, fair wages, and investment in social infrastructure, echoing themes from KRC’s latest labor data. The Keystone Research Center’s findings on wage stagnation and the disproportionate economic burdens faced by working families lend urgency to the call for pro-labor policy.

Audacy / WILK News — New Report Warns of Economic Slowdown in Pennsylvania

Audacy’s coverage spotlights a rising concern among state analysts—including KRC—that Pennsylvania’s economic recovery is losing steam. The Keystone Research Center’s recent labor market research illustrates slowing growth, falling consumer confidence, and eroding worker leverage, signaling the need for renewed policy focus to sustain prosperity.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Money Section) — PA Economy in Flux as Inflation, Tariffs Batter Working Families

By Oliver Morrison
This analysis connects the dots between rising inflation, tariff shifts, and regional economic strain, especially for lower- and middle-income households. The Keystone Research Center’s economic modeling drives much of this insight—showing how these macroeconomic pressures are eroding real wages and amplifying hardship for working people.

WHYY — State Budget Delays Are Routine—but Painful for Local Services and Workers

By Carmen Russell-Sluchansky
WHYY examines recurring delays in passing Pennsylvania’s state budget, revealing how hold-ups stifle funding for nonprofits, schools, and workers. The Keystone Research Center’s tracking of these delays has been instrumental in showing how billions in public education and transit funding remain unspent—creating real consequences for community stability.

Lancaster Online — Around and Around the Carousel: Analyzing Pennsylvania’s Budget Impasse

By E Fletcher McClellan
This column delves into the persistent cycle of budget impasses in Harrisburg and their real-world consequences for local institutions and workers. The Keystone Research Center’s analysis provides a critical foundation—highlighting stalled education and transit investments that have ripple effects throughout the economy.

Central Penn Business Journal — After 30 Years, New Leader Named at Keystone Research Center

By Stacy Wescoe
This announcement marks a leadership transition at the Keystone Research Center after three decades of guidance. It underscores KRC’s legacy of independent, policy-driven research and its continued commitment to advancing economic justice for Pennsylvanians under new leadership.