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Nonfarm payroll employment up in 40 states in August 2020

September 23, 2020

Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 40 states and was essentially unchanged in 10 states and the District of Columbia in August 2020. The largest job gains occurred in New York (+153,300), Texas (+106,800), and California (+101,900). The largest percentage increases occurred in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia (+1.8 percent each).

Percent change in state employment, July to August 2020
State Percent change July 2020 employment August 2020 employment Net change

Alabama

1.1% 1,972,900 1,994,000 21,100

Alaska

1.6 291,700 296,500 4,800

Arizona

1.0 2,834,700 2,864,200 29,500

Arkansas

1.2 1,213,500 1,228,400 14,900

California

0.6 15,772,500 15,874,400 101,900

Colorado

1.4 2,612,700 2,649,600 36,900

Connecticut

1.3 1,546,200 1,566,600 20,400

Delaware

1.2 421,700 426,800 5,100

District of Columbia

-0.2 746,700 745,500 -1,200

Florida

0.7 8,467,200 8,525,100 57,900

Georgia

0.5 4,411,300 4,433,000 21,700

Hawaii

-0.2 548,900 547,600 -1,300

Idaho

0.9 751,200 758,200 7,000

Illinois

1.2 5,629,200 5,695,200 66,000

Indiana

1.6 3,008,700 3,056,100 47,400

Iowa

0.4 1,487,700 1,493,000 5,300

Kansas

0.7 1,355,800 1,365,100 9,300

Kentucky

1.7 1,791,500 1,822,300 30,800

Louisiana

1.0 1,836,700 1,855,800 19,100

Maine

1.1 575,900 582,000 6,100

Maryland

0.9 2,567,800 2,592,000 24,200

Massachusetts

1.6 3,242,600 3,294,200 51,600

Michigan

1.4 3,939,700 3,994,200 54,500

Minnesota

1.5 2,725,300 2,765,800 40,500

Mississippi

0.9 1,117,800 1,128,000 10,200

Missouri

0.2 2,763,800 2,769,500 5,700

Montana

0.1 461,000 461,400 400

Nebraska

0.3 987,400 990,600 3,200

Nevada

0.5 1,283,300 1,289,800 6,500

New Hampshire

1.7 620,300 631,000 10,700

New Jersey

1.8 3,754,000 3,820,000 66,000

New Mexico

0.4 788,500 791,400 2,900

New York

1.8 8,435,600 8,588,900 153,300

North Carolina

0.4 4,246,100 4,263,100 17,000

North Dakota

1.0 404,700 408,700 4,000

Ohio

0.9 5,101,700 5,147,200 45,500

Oklahoma

0.7 1,610,500 1,621,600 11,100

Oregon

0.6 1,790,500 1,801,800 11,300

Pennsylvania

1.1 5,518,400 5,577,900 59,500

Rhode Island

1.5 459,300 466,200 6,900

South Carolina

1.0 2,072,500 2,092,200 19,700

South Dakota

0.3 419,200 420,600 1,400

Tennessee

0.8 2,963,500 2,986,100 22,600

Texas

0.9 12,112,600 12,219,400 106,800

Utah

0.4 1,532,800 1,538,700 5,900

Vermont

1.3 278,300 282,000 3,700

Virginia

1.8 3,782,200 3,850,200 68,000

Washington

1.4 3,227,900 3,274,200 46,300

West Virginia

0.8 668,900 674,400 5,500

Wisconsin

1.3 2,720,500 2,755,200 34,700

Wyoming

0.2 269,300 269,800 500

Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 49 states and the District and was essentially unchanged in 1 state. The largest percentage declines occurred in Hawaii (−16.1 percent), New York (−12.4 percent), and Massachusetts (−10.9 percent). The smallest percentage declines occurred in Utah (−1.8 percent), Mississippi (−2.6 percent), and Arizona (−3.2 percent).

State employment by industry, August 2019 to August 2020

Percent change in state employment by industry, August 2019 to August 2020
State Total nonfarm Construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation, and utilities Financial activities Professional and business services Education and health services Leisure and hospitality Government

Alabama

-4.0% -0.6% -1.9% 1.4% -0.4% -5.1% -7.9% -16.7% -1.7%

Alaska

-10.1 -10.5 -32.3 -7.9 1.7 -8.3 -6.3 -33.5 -1.5

Arizona

-3.2 -1.1 -4.3 2.0 0.1 -6.0 0.0 -19.1 -1.2

Arkansas

-3.5 1.5 -11.1 3.0 -3.7 0.8 -4.2 -14.5 -2.2

California

-9.1 -5.8 -7.6 -6.8 -0.7 -5.8 -4.8 -31.2 -4.7

Colorado

-5.3 -4.2 0.5 -3.8 -3.0 0.3 -2.9 -19.1 -5.2

Connecticut

-7.0 -3.4 -4.5 -6.0 -3.2 -5.3 -4.8 -22.9 -5.6

Delaware

-8.7 -5.7 -8.1 -5.2 -3.8 -9.5 -9.1 -25.3 -1.9

District of Columbia

-6.7 1.4 -7.7 -4.8 -5.7 -3.7 -5.5 -46.6 1.5

Florida

-5.1 -1.0 -3.0 -3.0 -1.4 -5.0 -1.2 -19.8 0.2

Georgia

-4.2 -3.0 -6.5 0.8 -3.6 -5.1 -0.6 -15.9 -1.7

Hawaii

-16.1 -1.1 -20.1 -15.0 -5.4 -9.9 -4.1 -52.4 -0.6

Idaho

-0.7 2.4 0.4 2.7 6.5 -0.3 -3.8 -9.8 0.7

Illinois

-7.0 -7.5 -4.4 -4.4 -2.4 -7.6 -4.4 -23.1 -4.6

Indiana

-3.4 2.1 -7.4 -2.3 -1.4 -1.1 -3.4 -6.0 -0.7

Iowa

-5.8 -11.8 -3.2 -3.4 -2.2 -5.7 -4.1 -20.8 -3.3

Kansas

-4.3 -0.8 -7.1 -0.4 -3.4 -3.8 -3.5 -13.4 -2.9

Kentucky

-6.2 -0.2 -6.5 -5.1 -6.1 -10.9 -4.0 -9.8 -5.1

Louisiana

-6.6 -11.4 -6.6 -3.6 -1.0 -6.8 -6.7 -17.8 0.5

Maine

-8.7 -1.0 -18.0 -2.7 -3.6 -6.9 -7.8 -29.4 -3.1

Maryland

-6.4 2.3 -6.4 -5.8 -1.9 -5.5 -7.9 -22.7 -0.7

Massachusetts

-10.9 -12.4 -4.4 -10.5 -2.7 -5.5 -7.5 -38.7 -5.9

Michigan

-10.1 -1.3 -10.5 -5.0 -1.8 -9.3 -8.9 -35.7 -5.2

Minnesota

-7.3 -7.6 -5.0 -2.5 -3.8 -3.9 -7.0 -26.8 -5.4

Mississippi

-2.6 -5.6 -2.2 -0.4 -4.0 -3.9 -5.5 -3.7 -1.2

Missouri

-4.7 2.1 -3.3 -4.5 -3.2 -4.3 -4.8 -16.9 -0.5

Montana

-5.0 0.0 -9.5 -2.3 -0.4 -6.4 -2.7 -15.4 -2.4

Nebraska

-3.6 -2.2 -2.5 -1.7 0.5 -4.3 -0.3 -15.9 -3.1

Nevada

-9.4 -5.2 -4.0 -9.3 0.3 -12.9 -5.0 -15.9 -4.5

New Hampshire

-8.0 -5.7 -8.8 -9.8 0.6 -8.3 -2.6 -28.3 -3.1

New Jersey

-9.0 -8.4 -3.6 -5.6 -4.7 -9.3 -7.9 -31.3 -4.7

New Mexico

-8.0 -3.5 -5.6 -1.8 -4.2 -7.4 -3.3 -29.0 -3.3

New York

-12.4 -11.3 -9.2 -12.4 -6.0 -12.2 -6.6 -41.7 -6.8

North Carolina

-7.0 -5.0 -8.3 -2.8 -0.4 -4.2 -6.7 -25.1 -4.8

North Dakota

-7.1 -8.8 -7.2 -6.4 -1.2 -4.8 -2.1 -13.6 -2.3

Ohio

-8.0 -5.6 -5.9 -5.7 -5.1 -8.6 -4.2 -25.1 -7.5

Oklahoma

-4.7 -8.8 -9.1 -2.3 0.4 -7.8 -2.1 -5.7 -1.6

Oregon

-7.4 -2.6 -9.3 -2.6 -3.6 -6.3 -4.5 -25.9 -5.4

Pennsylvania

-8.2 -6.5 -6.6 -8.1 0.4 -7.1 -5.1 -28.2 -1.6

Rhode Island

-7.4 -8.0 -2.5 -7.2 1.4 -9.8 -3.6 -21.5 -1.2

South Carolina

-4.8 1.1 -1.4 -3.1 -2.1 -2.9 -6.0 -20.6 -2.0

South Dakota

-4.5 10.9 -6.9 -4.1 0.0 0.0 -3.7 -13.6 -6.4

Tennessee

-4.6 -3.4 -8.9 -0.3 0.5 -4.5 -2.5 -16.5 -2.6

Texas

-4.8 -5.0 -4.4 -3.0 0.4 -1.3 -4.0 -17.7 -1.4

Utah

-1.8 8.0 -1.6 1.6 1.3 -3.2 -1.0 -16.4 -2.1

Vermont

-10.7 -29.6 -10.6 -6.3 -10.6 -4.4 -4.1 -42.7 -0.9

Virginia

-5.2 2.2 -6.7 -2.2 -2.3 -4.3 -6.6 -20.3 -2.3

Washington

-6.0 -3.9 -9.0 -0.9 -0.8 -0.1 -5.0 -29.2 -2.5

West Virginia

-6.3 -8.3 -0.9 -5.1 -4.1 -7.6 -3.9 -19.3 -3.2

Wisconsin

-7.5 0.1 -5.1 -3.5 -1.9 -8.6 -4.6 -26.5 -5.5

Wyoming

-7.3 -1.3 0.0 -0.2 -4.5 -10.9 -1.7 -19.5 -3.0
Percent change in state employment by industry, August 2019 to August 2020
State Total nonfarm Construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation, and utilities Financial activities Professional and business services Education and health services Leisure and hospitality Government

Alabama

-4.0% -0.6% -1.9% 1.4% -0.4% -5.1% -7.9% -16.7% -1.7%

Alaska

-10.1 -10.5 -32.3 -7.9 1.7 -8.3 -6.3 -33.5 -1.5

Arizona

-3.2 -1.1 -4.3 2.0 0.1 -6.0 0.0 -19.1 -1.2

Arkansas

-3.5 1.5 -11.1 3.0 -3.7 0.8 -4.2 -14.5 -2.2

California

-9.1 -5.8 -7.6 -6.8 -0.7 -5.8 -4.8 -31.2 -4.7

Colorado

-5.3 -4.2 0.5 -3.8 -3.0 0.3 -2.9 -19.1 -5.2

Connecticut

-7.0 -3.4 -4.5 -6.0 -3.2 -5.3 -4.8 -22.9 -5.6

Delaware

-8.7 -5.7 -8.1 -5.2 -3.8 -9.5 -9.1 -25.3 -1.9

District of Columbia

-6.7 1.4 -7.7 -4.8 -5.7 -3.7 -5.5 -46.6 1.5

Florida

-5.1 -1.0 -3.0 -3.0 -1.4 -5.0 -1.2 -19.8 0.2

Georgia

-4.2 -3.0 -6.5 0.8 -3.6 -5.1 -0.6 -15.9 -1.7

Hawaii

-16.1 -1.1 -20.1 -15.0 -5.4 -9.9 -4.1 -52.4 -0.6

Idaho

-0.7 2.4 0.4 2.7 6.5 -0.3 -3.8 -9.8 0.7

Illinois

-7.0 -7.5 -4.4 -4.4 -2.4 -7.6 -4.4 -23.1 -4.6

Indiana

-3.4 2.1 -7.4 -2.3 -1.4 -1.1 -3.4 -6.0 -0.7

Iowa

-5.8 -11.8 -3.2 -3.4 -2.2 -5.7 -4.1 -20.8 -3.3

Kansas

-4.3 -0.8 -7.1 -0.4 -3.4 -3.8 -3.5 -13.4 -2.9

Kentucky

-6.2 -0.2 -6.5 -5.1 -6.1 -10.9 -4.0 -9.8 -5.1

Louisiana

-6.6 -11.4 -6.6 -3.6 -1.0 -6.8 -6.7 -17.8 0.5

Maine

-8.7 -1.0 -18.0 -2.7 -3.6 -6.9 -7.8 -29.4 -3.1

Maryland

-6.4 2.3 -6.4 -5.8 -1.9 -5.5 -7.9 -22.7 -0.7

Massachusetts

-10.9 -12.4 -4.4 -10.5 -2.7 -5.5 -7.5 -38.7 -5.9

Michigan

-10.1 -1.3 -10.5 -5.0 -1.8 -9.3 -8.9 -35.7 -5.2

Minnesota

-7.3 -7.6 -5.0 -2.5 -3.8 -3.9 -7.0 -26.8 -5.4

Mississippi

-2.6 -5.6 -2.2 -0.4 -4.0 -3.9 -5.5 -3.7 -1.2

Missouri

-4.7 2.1 -3.3 -4.5 -3.2 -4.3 -4.8 -16.9 -0.5

Montana

-5.0 0.0 -9.5 -2.3 -0.4 -6.4 -2.7 -15.4 -2.4

Nebraska

-3.6 -2.2 -2.5 -1.7 0.5 -4.3 -0.3 -15.9 -3.1

Nevada

-9.4 -5.2 -4.0 -9.3 0.3 -12.9 -5.0 -15.9 -4.5

New Hampshire

-8.0 -5.7 -8.8 -9.8 0.6 -8.3 -2.6 -28.3 -3.1

New Jersey

-9.0 -8.4 -3.6 -5.6 -4.7 -9.3 -7.9 -31.3 -4.7

New Mexico

-8.0 -3.5 -5.6 -1.8 -4.2 -7.4 -3.3 -29.0 -3.3

New York

-12.4 -11.3 -9.2 -12.4 -6.0 -12.2 -6.6 -41.7 -6.8

North Carolina

-7.0 -5.0 -8.3 -2.8 -0.4 -4.2 -6.7 -25.1 -4.8

North Dakota

-7.1 -8.8 -7.2 -6.4 -1.2 -4.8 -2.1 -13.6 -2.3

Ohio

-8.0 -5.6 -5.9 -5.7 -5.1 -8.6 -4.2 -25.1 -7.5

Oklahoma

-4.7 -8.8 -9.1 -2.3 0.4 -7.8 -2.1 -5.7 -1.6

Oregon

-7.4 -2.6 -9.3 -2.6 -3.6 -6.3 -4.5 -25.9 -5.4

Pennsylvania

-8.2 -6.5 -6.6 -8.1 0.4 -7.1 -5.1 -28.2 -1.6

Rhode Island

-7.4 -8.0 -2.5 -7.2 1.4 -9.8 -3.6 -21.5 -1.2

South Carolina

-4.8 1.1 -1.4 -3.1 -2.1 -2.9 -6.0 -20.6 -2.0

South Dakota

-4.5 10.9 -6.9 -4.1 0.0 0.0 -3.7 -13.6 -6.4

Tennessee

-4.6 -3.4 -8.9 -0.3 0.5 -4.5 -2.5 -16.5 -2.6

Texas

-4.8 -5.0 -4.4 -3.0 0.4 -1.3 -4.0 -17.7 -1.4

Utah

-1.8 8.0 -1.6 1.6 1.3 -3.2 -1.0 -16.4 -2.1

Vermont

-10.7 -29.6 -10.6 -6.3 -10.6 -4.4 -4.1 -42.7 -0.9

Virginia

-5.2 2.2 -6.7 -2.2 -2.3 -4.3 -6.6 -20.3 -2.3

Washington

-6.0 -3.9 -9.0 -0.9 -0.8 -0.1 -5.0 -29.2 -2.5

West Virginia

-6.3 -8.3 -0.9 -5.1 -4.1 -7.6 -3.9 -19.3 -3.2

Wisconsin

-7.5 0.1 -5.1 -3.5 -1.9 -8.6 -4.6 -26.5 -5.5

Wyoming

-7.3 -1.3 0.0 -0.2 -4.5 -10.9 -1.7 -19.5 -3.0

Employment decreased in all 50 states and the District in the leisure and hospitality industry, as well as the education and health services industry for the year ended August 2020. Every state other than Colorado (+0.5 percent), Idaho (+0.4 percent), and Wyoming (unchanged) experienced a drop in employment for manufacturing. Arkansas (+0.8 percent) and Colorado (+0.3 percent) were the only states with employment growth in the professional and business services industry.

These data are from the Current Employment Statistics (State and Metro Area) program and are seasonally adjusted. Data for the most recent month are preliminary and subject to revision. To learn more, see “State Employment and Unemployment — August 2020.” For more charts and tables related to state employment and unemployment, see the state chart package.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, Nonfarm payroll employment up in 40 states in August 2020 at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/nonfarm-payroll-employment-up-in-40-states-in-august-2020.htm (visited October 31, 2024).

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