New Hampshire Named Number One for Jobs – NH Journal

A new analysis of the U.S. job market names New Hampshire the number one state for “job-market strength and economic vitality.” It’s just the latest top ranking for the Granite State on issues from taxpayer return on investment to personal safety, and it comes just days before voters go to the polls to pick a new governor.

The analysis was conducted by WalletHub, and it compared indicators like the number of job opportunities, the average starting salaries, and the rate of employment growth.

“New Hampshire is the best state for jobs, in large part because it has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, at just 2 percent, and the third-most job opportunities per capita,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

“In addition, the number of available jobs in New Hampshire increases by around 1.7 percent per year, the seventh-highest in the nation. Once people get jobs in New Hampshire, they’re also likely to keep them, as the state has the seventh-best job security. To top things off, New Hampshire has the lowest percentage of the workforce living in poverty, which demonstrates that workers are generally receiving reasonable pay.”

Outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu has touted the state’s economic success on his watch, and he’s urging New Hampshire voters to stay the course by supporting fellow Republican Kelly Ayotte for governor when they go to the polls on Tuesday.

Ayotte has pledged to “keep New Hampshire on the Sununu path.”

Recent Granite State rankings include:

• #1 for taxpayer return on investment;
• #1 state for personal safety;
• #2 “safest state” in U.S.;
• #1 most affordable state to have a baby;
• #2 overall lowest tax burden.

The new jobs ranking is a reminder that Sununu is going to be a tough act to follow. That’s particularly true former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig, the Democrat hoping to replace him.

Asked why voters should make a change given the state’s current success, Craig declined to respond.

At the same time, the latest NHJournal/Praecones Analytica poll asked Granite Staters if they would rather have New Hampshire “stay on the Sununu course” or “want New Hampshire to make a change,” a majority chose change — 55 to 45 percent.

“WalletHub compared the 50 states across 34 key indicators of job-market strength and economic vitality. The data set ranges from employment growth to the median annual income to the average commute time,” according to their press release.

A new Marist poll finds 95 percent of voters say the economy will be a factor in their decision on who to support in the upcoming election, with 59 percent saying it will be the deciding factor.