Sector Dashboard - Distribution

Distribution encompasses transportation, logistics, warehousing, and wholesale of food-related goods. Distribution is the third-largest sector in the food economy with respect to employment, and pays the second-highest average wages. While distribution employment in the city dipped in recent years, growth is projected locally and statewide. The 5,502 distribution firms in the region account for nearly ¼ of all firms in the food economy.

*Projected job growth for the metro area is calculated at the state level. A factor of 15% is applied to job projections for distribution.

Distribution occupations are dominated by heavy tractor trailer driving, which has an entry-level education requirement of a high school diploma and a modest mean wage. A variety of trade-related occupations in this sector pay higher wages and are attainable through certification and education.

*All Distribution occupations are calculated at the state level due to data availability, **numbers with two asterisks are calculated at the national level. All distribution numbers do not contain the 15% distribution factor.

At the industry level, wholesale trade agents and brokers lead employment and wages within the distribution sector, though this industry lost jobs at the city and regional levels between 2012 and 2017. General line grocery merchants have added the most jobs regionally, and fish and seafood merchants have added the most jobs in the city.

Highest Wages = Green; Most Jobs Added = Red; Most Employees = Blue

Distribution firms are concentrated in south Philadelphia, in areas where there is industrial zoning, and access to rail, air, and highway transportation networks. There is also spread of distribution firms in the northeast, likely due to lower density of residential and commercial properties.