50-State Rankings for February 2020-February 2022

State Job Recovery Trends as of February 2022

• Nebraska (+1.2%), Washington (+0.9%), Wyoming (+0.9%), New Hampshire (+0.8%), and South Carolina (+0.8%) led February job growth in percentage gains.
• California (+138,100), Texas (+77,800), Florida (+51,000), Pennsylvania (+34,400), and Washington (+31,700) had the most absolute job creation in February.

National Job Recovery Trends as of February 2022

• The US lost 22 million jobs from February 2020-April 2020.
• The US is currently 2.1 million jobs below pre-pandemic levels, a 1.4% net decline.

Key Takeaways: The Impact of State Policies on Job Recovery

• State recovery leaders impose fewer economic restrictions, lower taxes, and embrace policies that attract families and businesses.
• Idaho, Montana, Arkansas, Texas, North Carolina, Arizona, and Colorado each cut taxes or spending in 2021. Tennessee cut taxes in 2022.
• Colorado became the eleventh state to exceed its pre-pandemic jobs count in February 2022.
• Uncompetitive states face heightened competition for workers and businesses in the new era of remote work.
• Large states like New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois are suffering through an unnecessarily slow labor market recovery.
• Dozens of states are considering tax cuts in 2022 to increase their competitiveness for attracting mobile businesses and remote workers.