States adding (and losing) the most jobs

The United States has added more than 12 million jobs since the spring of 2011. Since then, the unemployment rate has fallen from 9.1% to 5.0% — close to an eight-year low.

To identify the states with the most and least job growth, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed states with the most significant changes in employment from April 2011 through April 2016. Unemployment rates, the size of the labor force, and employment levels are from the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of households jointly administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and U.S. Census Bureau. Industry-specific growth rates for the same period are from the Current Employment Survey (CES), also from the BLS.

These are the states where employment is growing fastest, and where it is not growing at all.

THE TOP FIVE

1. Utah
> Employment increase: 14.5%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 1.24 million (18th least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 1.42 million (19th least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 3.8% (15th lowest)
> Industry contributing most to increase: Professional and business services

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2. Delaware
> Employment increase: 13.0%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 409,226 (5th least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 462,377 (6th least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 4.0% (19th lowest)
> Industry contributing most to increase: Education and health services

3. Nevada
> Employment increase: 13.0%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 1.18 million (16th least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 1.34 million (18th least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 6.1% (4th highest)
> Industry contributing most to increase: Professional and business services

5. Idaho
> Employment increase: 12.1%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 693,782 (12th least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 777,399 (13th least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 3.6% (12th lowest)
> Industry contributing most to increase: Education and health services

THE BOTTOM FIVE

50. West Virginia
> Employment decline: -1.6%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 742,153 (13th least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 730,395 (12th least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 6.2% (2nd highest)
> Industry contributing most to decline: Mining and logging

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49. Wyoming
> Employment decline: -1.5%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 285,574 (the least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 281,212 (the least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 5.7% (7th highest)
> Industry contributing most to decline: Other services

48. Vermont
> Employment decline: -0.8%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 333,639 (3rd least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 331,032 (2nd least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 3.0% (4th lowest)
> Industry contributing most to decline: Durable goods

47. Mississippi
> Employment decline: -0.6%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 1.21 million (17th least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 1.20 million (16th least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 5.0% (15th highest)
> Industry contributing most to decline: Construction

46. Alaska
> Employment decline: -0.2%
> Number of jobs April 2011: 331,879 (2nd least)
> Number of jobs April 2016: 331,132 (3rd least)
> Unemployment rate April 2016: 6.9% (the highest)
> Industry contributing most to decline: Government