10 States With the Slowest Rates of Job Growth, 2020

U.S.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

U.S. job growth in 2019 is likely to average 170,000 jobs per month, down from 223,000 in 2018. The decline is partly attributable to fewer available workers to hire with the low unemployment rate. Also, businesses are reluctant to aggressively pursue growth, given increasing economic uncertainty from the intensifying trade war with China.

Hiring in some sectors --particularly health care-- remains robust. Services associated with a growing economy, such as computers, restaurants, and temporary help, are also up.

The weak spots? Retail is shedding workers as stores continue to close. The telecom sector also continues its long decline. The drop in oil prices has led to job cuts in the oil and gas sector. The trade war has hurt demand for agricultural products in farm states. Finally, low population growth is holding job gains in check for some states.

As a result, some states are struggling to add jobs. Every year, The Kiplinger Letter forecasts economic growth in all 50 states (plus the District of Columbia). Check out the 10 states with the slowest projected rates of job growth in 2020.

David Payne
Staff Economist, The Kiplinger Letter

David is both staff economist and reporter for The Kiplinger Letter, overseeing Kiplinger forecasts for the U.S. and world economies. Previously, he was senior principal economist in the Center for Forecasting and Modeling at IHS/GlobalInsight, and an economist in the Chief Economist's Office of the U.S. Department of Commerce. David has co-written weekly reports on economic conditions since 1992, and has forecasted GDP and its components since 1995, beating the Blue Chip Indicators forecasts two-thirds of the time. David is a Certified Business Economist as recognized by the National Association for Business Economics. He has two master's degrees and is ABD in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.