Red State Economies Rebound While Blue States Stagnate

Republican-led states are outpacing Democrat-led states by nearly six percentage points when it comes to job recovery following the pandemic, according to April 2021 unemployment numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Center Square: “The four states with the lowest jobless rates in April were all run by Republican trifectas: Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Utah, with 2.8% each. Vermont, with a Republican governor and a Democratic-controlled state House and Senate, ranked fifth-best with an unemployment rate of 2.9%.”

In stark contrast, the states with the highest unemployment rates in April are all run by Democrat trifectas: Hawaii (8.5%), California (8.3%), New Mexico (8.2%), New York (8.2%), and Connecticut (8.1%).

The pattern continues when you look at states overall. The majority of those with unemployment rates falling below the national average are led by Republicans while the majority of states spiking above the national average are led by Democrats.

The Center Square: “Overall, 31 states had unemployment rates lower than the U.S. national average of 6.1%. The majority – 26 – are Republican-led states. Of the 19 states and the District of Columbia with jobless rates higher than the national average, 14 are led by Democrats.”

The latest unemployment numbers come as many Republican governors have opted to end enhanced federal unemployment benefits early to help business owners who are struggling to fill staffing positions. Some governors are offering one-time bonuses to incentivize returning back to work.

Bottom line: American workers in states run by Republicans are thriving while Democrats continue hindering economic growth with their failed policy agenda.