Have more jobs been created under Democratic presidents than Republican presidents over the past 30 years?
Saturday, February 6, 2021
By Austin Tannenbaum
This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
YES
In recent decades, job growth under Democratic presidents has outpaced the rate under Republican presidents, both in raw numbers and as a percent increase compared to the previous administration. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data:
- Under Bill Clinton, the U.S. economy added 18.7 million jobs, a 15.7% gain.
- Under Barack Obama, the U.S. added 8.9 million jobs, a 6% gain.
- Under George W. Bush, the U.S. added 5.7 million jobs, a 4.2% gain.
- In the first three years of Donald Trump’s single term, the country added another 6.6 million jobs, a 4.4% gain.
Employment plummeted in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, producing a net loss of nearly three million jobs between January 2017 and January 2021. Trump left office with the lowest annualized job growth numbers since the government began tracking employment in 1929.
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