Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday highlighted the state's unemployment rate dropping to 3.6 percent in September, the lowest level in three years.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry reported the rate fell one-tenth of a percentage point from August and stood six-tenths below the national rate of 4.2 percent. The figure marked an eight-tenths decline from 4.4 percent a year earlier and came just one-tenth above the record low set in mid-2023.

Shapiro posted on social media that the improvement resulted from state efforts to grow the economy, expand the workforce, and create jobs. He added that the administration would not slow its pace. The civilian labor force reached a record high of 6,663,000 residents.

Critics of Shapiro credited broader national economic conditions and prior federal policies for the unemployment improvement rather than state actions alone. Pennsylvania's rate has generally tracked below the U.S. average in recent months amid record labor force participation.

The announcement coincided with reports that Shapiro had formed a federal political action committee, New Path PAC. The move allows him to raise and contribute funds directly to Democratic congressional candidates in Pennsylvania's competitive districts ahead of the midterms.

The PAC creation is the clearest sign yet of Shapiro harboring national aspirations. Rumors of a campaign for a higher office, including a potential 2028 presidential run, have followed Shapiro for years. Shapiro previously teased a potential run for higher office in April of this year, stopping short of confirming any campaigns and instead emphasizing his desire to help shape the Democratic Party’s future.

By establishing the federal committee, Shapiro gains the ability to build relationships and financial networks with party donors and candidates far beyond Pennsylvania's borders, a step typically taken by governors eyeing higher office and one we've seen from other Democrat governors already. Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, for example, has similarly launched a super PAC amid speculation of a 2028 White House Bid.

Though Shapiro has stated his immediate focus remains on his reelection campaign against Republican state Treasurer Stacy Garrity and supporting state-level races, the PAC structure positions him for broader influence within the Democratic Party.