Commonwealth ranked as a top employer by PA Chamber

For the second straight year, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been named a recipient of the PA Chamber Foundation‘s “Greatest Places to Intern in PA” awards.

The awards recognize Pennsylvania employers for providing dynamic, engaging, and educational experiences that prepare students to succeed in their future careers, according to a release.

“We’re proud to recognize the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as one of the Greatest Places to Intern in PA,” Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the PA Chamber, said in a statement. “Building a strong workforce starts with creating meaningful opportunities for students to gain real-world experience, and the commonwealth is investing in the next generation of talent.

“Pennsylvania is home to employers across every sector that are helping students launch successful careers, and we’re grateful to have the commonwealth as a partner in that effort,” added Bernstein.

Pennsylvania hires an average of 600 high school and college students of all ages each year, across more than 30 state agencies. Throughout 2026, the Shapiro administration has welcomed 962 interns, with more starting in the fall – the largest-ever cohort of interns. This includes 28 Pennsylvania college students with disabilities participating in the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation Summer Internship Program, the largest cohort in program history. All commonwealth internships are paid at least $17.88 per hour.

“The commonwealth’s internships are designed to give students the opportunity to do meaningful work and contribute to projects that are making a difference for Pennsylvanians,” said Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver. “Internship, fellowship, and apprenticeship programs are investments in Pennsylvania’s workforce and future. We are honored to be recognized again by the PA Chamber Foundation as a leading employer supporting career development for Pennsylvania workers.”

Pennsylvania offers enterprise internship programs managed by the Office of Administration (OA) along with agency-run internships tailored to specific professions and fields. Included in this is the Intern Academy, a targeted soft skills program to help students learn how to navigate the workplace. Interns are offered a structured curriculum focused on transitioning from academic life into the workforce, covering workplace skills such as time management, critical thinking versus problem solving, conflict styles, and best practices for job interviews.

OA has also expanded fellowship and apprenticeship opportunities across state agencies. Additionally, OA has leveraged apprenticeships for information technology careers.