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Employment in information industry declined for majority of U.S. states since end of last recession

November 25, 2016

The information industry plays an important role in keeping us informed and shaping our culture. When we watch television, listen to the radio, read a book or a magazine, surf the Internet, make a phone call or send a text, or see a movie at the theater, we consume much of what this industry produces. Since the end of the most recent recession, employment in the information industry decreased for the majority of U.S. states. From June 2009 to October 2016, Kansas had the largest percentage decrease in information employment (−41.6 percent). Over that period, Arizona had the largest percentage increase (24.0 percent).
Percent change in information employment, not seasonally adjusted, June 2009–October 2016
State Percent change(p) June 2009 employment October 2016 employment(p)

Arizona

 24.0% 38,400 47,600

Utah

 18.4 29,900 35,400

Washington

 17.3 104,500 122,600

California

 13.1 442,800 500,800

Oregon

 5.3 33,900 35,700

Georgia

 4.6 100,800 105,400

North Carolina

 4.3 70,100 73,100

New York

 3.6 260,800 270,300

Michigan

 3.2 57,000 58,800

Massachusetts

 2.7 85,800 88,100

Mississippi

 1.6 12,900 13,100

Nebraska

 1.1 17,600 17,800

New Hampshire

 0.8 12,500 12,600

Wisconsin

 0.4 48,100 48,300

Louisiana

 -0.4 24,900 24,800

Texas

 -2.1 205,300 201,000

Colorado

 -3.5 74,800 72,200

Connecticut

 -3.5 34,500 33,300

Tennessee

 -3.8 46,800 45,000

Hawaii

 -4.4 9,100 8,700

Nevada

 -4.6 13,100 12,500

South Carolina

 -4.7 27,400 26,100

Idaho

 -5.9 10,100 9,500

Alaska

 -6.1 6,600 6,200

Minnesota

 -8.0 55,300 50,900

Florida

 -8.3 145,100 133,000

Illinois

 -9.6 106,700 96,500

Wyoming

 -10.0 4,000 3,600

Kentucky

 -11.0 27,200 24,200

Ohio

 -11.5 81,100 71,800

New Jersey

 -11.9 85,000 74,900

South Dakota

 -11.9 6,700 5,900

North Dakota

 -12.0 7,500 6,600

District of Columbia

 -13.4 19,400 16,800

Pennsylvania

 -14.1 100,400 86,200

West Virginia

 -15.4 10,400 8,800

Alabama

 -16.1 25,400 21,300

Maryland

 -17.3 46,700 38,600

Virginia

 -17.4 81,800 67,600

Arkansas

 -17.6 16,500 13,600

Montana

 -18.4 7,600 6,200

Maine

 -18.7 9,100 7,400

Indiana

 -18.8 38,400 31,200

New Mexico

 -19.2 15,100 12,200

Rhode Island

 -19.2 10,400 8,400

Oklahoma

 -20.2 27,200 21,700

Missouri

 -20.6 64,900 51,500

Vermont

 -23.2 5,600 4,300

Delaware

 -24.6 6,500 4,900

Iowa

 -25.8 30,600 22,700

Kansas

 -41.6 32,900 19,200
Footnotes:

(p) = preliminary.

From June 2009 to October 2016, the majority of states with a percentage decrease in information employment experienced a decrease greater than or equal to 10 percent. In addition to Kansas, 5 other states had percentage decreases greater than or equal to 20 percent: Iowa (−25.8 percent); Delaware (−24.6 percent); Vermont (−23.2 percent); Missouri (−20.6 percent); and Oklahoma (−20.2 percent).

Other than Arizona, 3 states experienced a percentage increase in information employment greater than or equal to 10 percent from June 2009 to October 2016. All 3 of these states are in the West: Utah (18.4 percent); Washington (17.3 percent); and California (13.1 percent). 

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) program. Data for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revision. To learn more, see "Regional and State Employment and Unemployment — October 2016" (HTML) (PDF).

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Employment in information industry declined for majority of U.S. states since end of last recession at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2016/employment-in-information-industry-declined-for-majority-of-u-s-states-since-end-of-last-recession.htm (visited May 19, 2024).

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