The PA Chamber discussed with lawmakers last week how strengthening work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients could help address the state’s ongoing labor shortage while supporting long-term economic mobility.

Testifying before the House Human Services Committee on April 13, PA Chamber Government Affairs Manager Aaron Riggleman said employers across the Commonwealth are struggling to fill open positions, with workforce participation still lagging pre-pandemic levels.

“Simply put, Pennsylvania needs more people participating in the workforce,” Riggleman told the committee, pointing to roughly 243,000 open jobs statewide as of late 2025.

Riggleman said the state’s labor challenges span industries, including manufacturing, health care, construction, and hospitality, and are compounded by demographic trends such as an aging population and declining birth rates. He added that shortages are especially acute in the skilled trades, where demand is expected to grow in the coming years.

Against that backdrop, Riggleman said public assistance programs like SNAP can play a role in encouraging individuals into employment, particularly when paired with clear and consistent work requirements.

“For able-bodied adults without dependents, we support reasonable and consistently applied work requirements that strengthen the connection between public benefits and workforce engagement,” he said.

At the same time, Riggleman emphasized that SNAP remains a critical support for low-income households and should be viewed as part of a broader workforce strategy, not in conflict with it.

“Food security and workforce participation are not competing priorities,” he said. “In many cases, they reinforce each other.”

Riggleman also stressed that policy design will be key to success, urging lawmakers to ensure any changes are easy to navigate for participants and aligned with real workforce needs. He called for stronger coordination between employers, workforce development partners and state agencies to connect individuals with training and job opportunities in high-demand fields.

“The system should be easy for applicants to navigate and practical for employers and workforce partners to participate in,” Riggleman said.

He added that the business community stands ready to work with policymakers to expand training pathways, improve communication and better align public assistance programs with the needs of Pennsylvania’s economy.