At 770,240, More Granite Staters Are Working Now Than Ever Before

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire Employment Security released the latest employment and unemployment news for the Granite State and, for the most part, the news is exceedingly good. The state's labor participation rate reached an all-time high of 770,240 for the month of July 2019, with the economy adding nearly 8,000 jobs since this time last year. About 650 nonseasonal jobs were added to the economy in July while an additional 150 jobs were also added this month.

The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.5 percent. It has been bouncing back and forth between 2.5 and 2.4 percent since this time last year, according to state data, based on seasonally adjusted and unadjusted data.

Gov. Chris Sununu, R-NH, said the numbers showed that residents were benefitting – and participating in – a thriving economy.

"Today's jobs report reaffirms that the steps we have taken to cut taxes, slash regulations, and spend wisely have resulted in real benefits for both New Hampshire businesses and the individuals they employ," he said. "To pass a budget that dramatically increases taxes on New Hampshire's job-creators by 12.5% would limit the opportunity New Hampshire businesses have to invest in their employees."

About 150 people filed for new unemployment claims last month meaning that 19,090 people in the Granite State were unemployed. During the last year, that number has fluctuated between 18,333 and 19,133, based on seasonal changes, new workers moving into the state, children becoming adults and entering the workforce, and retirees leaving the workforce.

At this time five years ago, as an example, more than 31,000 people were unemployed; a decade ago, 48,600 were counted as out of work, according to state data.

More data is expected to be released next week.

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• NH House, Senate Approve Continuing Resolutions On State Budget

The stalemate between the Republican governor and the House and state Senate, both controlled by Democrats, continues, with legislative leaders holding hearings about the impact a continuing resolution budget is having on citizens and departments. The second of three New Hampshire House and Senate Finance Joint Ad Hoc Committee on the Budget impact hearings was held Tuesday.

"The public hearing today made clear Governor Sununu’s budget veto is holding us back from dealing with our child protection crisis, our children’s mental health crisis, our drinking water crisis, and our and our opioid crisis by not supporting law enforcement through Granite Shield," said state Sen. Dan Feltes, D-Concord, in a statement. "It is time for Governor Sununu to tell the public what he would cut from the budget to fund the additional corporate tax breaks he wants so we can work to resolve this budget crisis."

The continuing resolution budget is in place until a new budget is approved or the end of September, whichever comes first. In 44 days that state government has continued to do business without a new budget, spending at 2018-2019 levels, the government has saved $33.9 million, according to officials.

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