It’s been widely reported that metro
Pittsburgh generated a paltry 2,000 jobs in the latest Quarter and its
unemployment rate shot up a full percentage point from the mid-sixes to the
mid-sevens. Even with the caveat that
unemployment rates for specific metro areas are less exact than national
numbers [is the phrase “even less exact” a better characterization?] this is
still a disturbing trend.
Is Pittsburgh back to status of
first-into-recession/last-out? Well,
maybe, sort of.
Things are not as good anywhere as
reported and, I personally believe, getting worse over in the entire US
economy. But what explains Pittsburgh’s next to last ranking among large metro
areas when it comes to job creation?
Is it the tax climate? What about
Minneapolis or Boston - they're worse than Pittsburgh. Is it the weather
climate? Oh c'mon, can't use that excuse given growth in other cities with far
worse weather. And besides, one man’s “bad weather” is another’s “outdoor
recreation opportunity”. Is it an "inside the center/outside the center"
thing? By that I mean Allegheny and much of Washington and Butler counties have
people that could be from anywhere else in the country, New York to L.A. But travel to the more
outlying counties and we too often find, as but one example, lower educational levels. Having traveled throughout that territory I
can personally attest that the attitude of locals is too often less than welcoming
to outside interests. You’ve got to want
economic development before outsiders will look at you. But I digress.
Is it reporting problems? How can
Pittsburgh be SO far behind after being at the forefront recently? I mean PNC is
growing, Dick's Sporting Goods is growing, I see new hotels and stores
everywhere, just look at South Hills Village and Ross Park. But the retail
hiring took a huge hit in the numbers I saw. So what is it? I don’t have answers but the questions need
asked.
If Pittsburgh and the central
counties need to bear the burden of metro economic development then that’s just the way
it is. Here’s one thought. In previous posts I’ve fingered CMU, as
important as they are to Pittsburgh, for what I see as mediocre commitment to
local economic development. From what I can tell, Cohon’s administration has
not done enough to bring development into Pittsburgh. Currently, CMU exports
most of its talent to the Silicon Valley. I pray the new President Suresh, from MIT
with its enviable development record in Boston, will be different. Have you been to
Cambridge recently? It's already living 2050 in terms of what is being
researched there, especially around MIT. Oakland needs that. Redo Panther
Hollow as a Silicon Hollow I say!
