21 states added jobs from February 2019 to February 2020

From February 2019 to February 2020, 21 states had statistically significant increases in nonfarm payroll employment. The largest percentage gains occurred in Utah (2.9 percent), Washington (2.8 percent), and Arizona (2.7 percent). Employment decreased significantly in West Virginia (−11,000, or −1.5 percent).

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Chart Data Change in nonfarm employment by state, February 2019 to February 2020, seasonally adjusted State Percent change February 2019 employment February 2020 employment Net change Alabama 0.9% 2,066,900 2,085,300 18,400 Alaska 0.4 329,400 330,700 1,300 Arizona 2.7 2,910,400 2,987,800 77,400 Arkansas -0.1 1,279,200 1,278,500 -700 California 1.6 17,343,500 17,612,500 269,000 Colorado 1.8 2,766,800 2,816,900 50,100 Connecticut 0.8 1,687,500 1,700,800 13,300 Delaware 1.2 464,900 470,600 5,700 District of Columbia 0.9 796,000 803,200 7,200 Florida 1.9 8,906,100 9,075,900 169,800 Georgia 1.1 4,601,500 4,650,300 48,800 Hawaii 0.0 658,900 659,000 100 Idaho 2.6 752,400 771,900 19,500 Illinois 0.3 6,114,700 6,133,000 18,300 Indiana 0.1 3,178,500 3,181,300 2,800 Iowa -0.1 1,585,200 1,583,800 -1,400 Kansas 1.0 1,420,000 1,434,700 14,700 Kentucky 0.7 1,936,700 1,949,600 12,900 Louisiana -0.1 1,996,600 1,994,600 -2,000 Maine 0.4 635,800 638,300 2,500 Maryland 1.2 2,768,100 2,800,700 32,600 Massachusetts 0.9 3,686,600 3,720,400 33,800 Michigan 0.7 4,431,500 4,463,500 32,000 Minnesota 0.2 2,973,600 2,979,600 6,000 Mississippi 0.5 1,158,500 1,164,100 5,600 Missouri 0.6 2,898,500 2,916,800 18,300 Montana 1.5 481,800 489,200 7,400 Nebraska 1.3 1,025,800 1,038,700 12,900 Nevada 1.3 1,410,300 1,428,600 18,300 New Hampshire 0.9 684,900 690,800 5,900 New Jersey 1.4 4,185,200 4,243,900 58,700 New Mexico 1.5 852,900 865,600 12,700 New York 0.9 9,766,400 9,850,700 84,300 North Carolina 1.3 4,556,000 4,614,600 58,600 North Dakota 0.9 438,000 441,900 3,900 Ohio 0.2 5,591,500 5,604,600 13,100 Oklahoma 0.0 1,703,600 1,702,800 -800 Oregon 1.4 1,930,200 1,956,800 26,600 Pennsylvania 1.1 6,047,600 6,112,200 64,600 Rhode Island 0.9 503,900 508,500 4,600 South Carolina 2.1 2,173,200 2,218,300 45,100 South Dakota 0.9 440,000 444,100 4,100 Tennessee 1.6 3,106,800 3,157,800 51,000 Texas 2.5 12,709,800 13,024,300 314,500 Utah 2.9 1,544,000 1,589,200 45,200 Vermont -0.7 317,000 314,700 -2,300 Virginia 1.6 4,043,400 4,106,800 63,400 Washington 2.8 3,423,600 3,520,400 96,800 West Virginia -1.5 723,400 712,400 -11,000 Wisconsin 0.6 2,980,400 2,998,200 17,800 Wyoming -0.8 290,400 288,200 -2,200

The largest job gains over the 12-months ending February 2020 occurred in Texas (314,500), California (269,000), and Florida (169,800).

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 — February 2020.” For more charts and tables related to state employment and unemployment, see the state chart package.