Data Desk · United States
Private employers in 5 states have fewer jobs than before the pandemic
By The Liberty Tribune Data Desk ·
Private employers in Hawaii, Vermont, Iowa, Massachusetts and Maryland averaged fewer jobs over the 12 months to September 2026 than they did in 2019, according to a Liberty Tribune analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Oregon (minus 0.1%) and Illinois (0.0%) are about level with 2019 and are not counted.
In Iowa, Massachusetts and Maryland, government payrolls grew over the same period. Maryland added the most: 18,500 government jobs, against 11,400 fewer private ones.
Nationwide, private employment is up 5.5% from 2019 and government employment is up 3.2%. Government grew faster than private employers in 14 of 50 states, and government payrolls shrank in 16.
Private employment grew the most in Idaho (19.0%), Utah (15.2%) and Nevada (13.3%).
The comparison uses averages to smooth monthly swings: the 12 months to September 2026 against all of 2019, seasonally adjusted. Government covers federal, state and local jobs, including public schools and universities. Recent months are preliminary, and BLS revises them. The figures are not adjusted for population change.
The table below lists every state, from the weakest private job growth to the strongest.
| State | Private change | Private jobs | Government change | Government jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | β2.7% | β14,400 | β0.9% | β1,100 |
| Vermont | β2.0% | β5,100 | β0.3% | β200 |
| Iowa | β1.0% | β13,200 | +2.9% | +7,700 |
| Massachusetts | β0.6% | β18,100 | +3.3% | +15,200 |
| Maryland | β0.5% | β11,400 | +3.6% | +18,500 |
| Oregon | β0.1% | β1,300 | +5.2% | +15,400 |
| Illinois | 0.0% | β1,100 | +3.8% | +31,600 |
| Michigan | +0.5% | +17,300 | +3.6% | +21,900 |
| Wyoming | +0.9% | +1,900 | +3.0% | +2,100 |
| North Dakota | +0.9% | +3,100 | +3.9% | +3,300 |
| Louisiana | +1.1% | +18,700 | β1.8% | β5,900 |
| West Virginia | +1.3% | +7,500 | β3.4% | β5,200 |
| Ohio | +1.7% | +81,900 | β0.1% | β1,000 |
| Wisconsin | +1.7% | +44,600 | β0.1% | β200 |
| New York | +1.9% | +154,400 | +1.9% | +27,800 |
| Connecticut | +1.9% | +28,100 | β0.4% | β1,000 |
| Minnesota | +2.0% | +50,600 | +2.8% | +11,800 |
| Rhode Island | +2.4% | +10,700 | β1.9% | β1,200 |
| Pennsylvania | +2.5% | +134,800 | β0.8% | β5,800 |
| Nebraska | +3.3% | +27,900 | +2.6% | +4,500 |
| New Hampshire | +3.4% | +20,300 | β4.5% | β4,100 |
| Missouri | +3.5% | +86,400 | β1.1% | β5,000 |
| Kansas | +3.7% | +42,700 | β0.2% | β400 |
| Indiana | +3.7% | +102,000 | β1.4% | β5,900 |
| Maine | +4.1% | +21,700 | +2.4% | +2,400 |
| California | +4.2% | +621,100 | +2.7% | +71,200 |
| Alaska | +4.3% | +10,900 | β3.0% | β2,400 |
| Mississippi | +4.5% | +41,300 | β2.2% | β5,400 |
| Virginia | +4.6% | +154,600 | +3.6% | +26,100 |
| New Jersey | +4.9% | +176,000 | +0.2% | +1,300 |
| Kentucky | +5.0% | +82,000 | +1.4% | +4,300 |
| Oklahoma | +5.1% | +68,600 | +5.1% | +17,800 |
| New Mexico | +5.2% | +35,100 | +3.0% | +5,600 |
| Washington | +5.3% | +151,400 | +3.9% | +22,800 |
| Alabama | +5.5% | +92,700 | +9.5% | +37,200 |
| Delaware | +6.0% | +23,800 | +8.9% | +5,800 |
| Colorado | +6.1% | +142,800 | +6.9% | +31,400 |
| South Dakota | +8.1% | +29,100 | +1.3% | +1,000 |
| Georgia | +8.4% | +332,300 | +2.7% | +19,000 |
| Arkansas | +8.6% | +90,200 | β0.6% | β1,200 |
| Tennessee | +8.6% | +231,300 | +4.3% | +18,700 |
| Montana | +9.8% | +38,500 | +0.7% | +700 |
| South Carolina | +10.5% | +190,900 | +6.6% | +24,700 |
| North Carolina | +11.7% | +451,700 | +5.9% | +43,400 |
| Florida | +12.8% | +1,008,200 | +1.4% | +15,900 |
| Arizona | +12.9% | +324,100 | +1.0% | +4,400 |
| Texas | +13.2% | +1,426,700 | +7.9% | +155,700 |
| Nevada | +13.3% | +167,500 | +11.4% | +18,800 |
| Utah | +15.2% | +198,600 | +9.7% | +24,300 |
| Idaho | +19.0% | +120,200 | +2.1% | +2,700 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics (State and Area), seasonally adjusted, government SMS{state}000009000000001 and private SMS{state}000000500000001; CES9000000001 and CES0500000001 for the nation. Liberty Tribune analysis.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 31, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
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More from September 2026
- Paychecks trailed prices in 38 of 50 states over the past year
- Wisconsin paychecks fell 4.1% behind prices over the past year, the widest gap of any state
- Minnesota paychecks fell 4.1% behind prices over the past year, the second-widest gap of any state
- North Dakota paychecks fell 4.0% behind prices over the past year, the third-widest gap of any state
- Hawaii paychecks beat prices by 5.5% over the past year, the most of any state
- New Mexico paychecks beat prices by 2.9% over the past year, the second-most of any state
- Texas paychecks beat prices by 2.3% over the past year, the third-most of any state
- Government payrolls shrank in 33 of 50 states over the past year