District of Columbia
Which States Losing Jobs Saw Economic Shifts in Latest BLS Report?
Nine states and the District of Columbia lost jobs in the year ending in September, according to a report released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hit hard by the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal workforce, the…
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Key points
- Nine states and Washington, D.C., lost jobs over the past year, with D.C. suffering the largest drop at 3.5%.
- South Carolina led all states in percentage job growth, expanding its workforce by 2.3% and adding 55,200 positions.
- Growth in South Carolina was driven by construction, health care, hospitality, and automotive manufacturing expansions.
Which states losing jobs experienced recent workforce declines?
NewsWK — Nine states and the District of Columbia saw overall payrolls fall during the year ending in September. A new Bureau of Labor Statistics state report released on Tuesday revealed key state employment trends across the country. Federal workforce cuts under the Trump administration hit Washington, D.C., hardest with a 3.5% drop, cutting 25,800 jobs. Meanwhile, Montana dropped 1%, losing 5,300 positions in its first annual decrease since 2020.
How did US state job growth vary across the nation?
While some regions contracted, broad US state job growth showed strong performance in several southern and western regions. Eight states experienced smaller employment declines of less than 1% during the year. These states included:
Which regions led the nation in new employment gains?
South Carolina recorded the largest percentage growth among all states, expanding its total workforce by 2.3% and adding 55,200 jobs. Louisiana followed with a 1.8% gain, adding 36,000 positions to its state economy. Meanwhile, Nevada increased overall employment by 1.6%, placing 25,300 additional workers onto payrolls over the past year.
What drove South Carolina job growth past other states?
William Floyd, executive director of the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, attributed the surge to key industry sectors. Floyd noted in a statement that growth was concentrated in construction, health care, and leisure and hospitality. Furthermore, automotive manufacturing boosted state payrolls. Local car parts suppliers ramped up operations to supply a planned Scout Motors electric vehicle factory in Blythewood. Assembly line workers have already begun training inside the electric vehicle maker’s new on-site training facility. Additionally, employers started hiring for a new BMW battery factory.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
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