by Holly Riddle
According to the most recent SCE Labor Market Survey, this spring, the number of people searching for a job was at its highest since 2014. However, while that might automatically seem like a good thing for employers and a bad thing for jobseekers, it’s important to note that the survey also found that wage expectations have reached an all-new high for new jobs.
The average that today’s jobseekers are expecting? $81,822. In other words, today’s jobseekers have high expectations.
The good news for both jobseekers and employers, though, is that Happy Valley offers it all. Jobseekers can find high-paying new jobs that meet their rising expectations, and employers (at least the ones positioning themselves correctly) can more easily attract quality talent to Happy Valley due to the region’s livability.
Need some proof?
Happy Valley is ready to pay the right jobseekers
The region’s top employers are ready to pay the right jobseekers with salaried jobs that exceed the new-high expectations.
For example, looking at just one company, defense contractor company Raytheon is hiring a principal systems engineer with a salary range starting at $96,000, and is looking to fill multiple senior software engineer roles with salary ranges that start at $77,000 but go up to $163,000.
According to Indeed, there are more than 70 job openings at Penn State currently that pay more than $81,000 per year.
Downtown State College | Image Credits: State College Borough website
On an even broader level, looking at overall jobs listed for State College, Pennsylvania, on LinkedIn, there are more than a thousand open, in-office jobs with salaries starting at $80,000.
But what about livability?
That $80,000-plus salary is going to go further in Happy Valley overall. As we covered in 2023, the cost of living in State College is 7.6% below the national average, 84.6% lower than in New York City and a whopping 94% lower than in San Francisco. Home prices were, at the time, also 43.6% below the national median in the U.S.
Additionally, Happy Valley is ranked as a top county in Pennsylvania to live for health, thanks to factors such as abundant outdoor opportunities, strong healthcare infrastructure and collaborative efforts between healthcare providers and local businesses.
And, then, of course, as we’ve covered time and again, Happy Valley is a top Industry 4.0 town and a great place to adventure outside, eat amazing food and see world-class entertainment. The region has received multiple national nods for its small-town vibes, happy residents, exciting activities and lack of stress.
Need more?
If you’re a jobseeker ready to set off for greener pasture, you can start your job hunt on the HappyValley Industry job board. If, though, you’re an employer looking to attract top talent to the region, we can help. Happy Valley has everything that jobseekers want and need; it’s all a matter of showing them.
