HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Less than half of Dauphin County-based state employees under the governor’s jurisdiction work in the office three days or more each week.
The figure came out late this afternoon, after Gov. Josh Shapiro’s (D) office put out a release announcing it ordered more state workers to return to office.
The release said fewer than 1.5% of state employees now do telework, less than at the start of 2023. It added more than 5,700 state employees work twice a week in an office, with 60% of those in Dauphin County.
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now
But abc27 News asked for more numbers, and calculated 45% of state employees working under the governor in Dauphin County work three or more days in the office.
Pennsylvania has been modernizing its office buildings, which includes reducing the number of leased office space.
The number of state workers in office has become a point of contention in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race. Treasurer Stacy Garrity, who is vying for the Republican party’s nomination, blamed Harrisburg’s struggling downtown on empty office buildings.
As treasurer, Garrity already made all 350 of her employees return to the office in June 2021.
Are remote workers the cause of Harrisburg’s downtown struggles?
“I want government employees to come back to the office, and it’s better for Harrisburg as well,” Garrity said. “Look at all the empty buildings we have. Look at all the establishments that are suffering.”
However, a union leader representing state employees noted the number of in-person workers is at its highest since early 2020.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.