New Hampshire’s Labor Force Did Not Grow in 2023

The estimated size of New Hampshire’s labor force, which is the number of state residents working or actively looking for work, did not grow between 2022 and 2023. Based on surveys of residents and economic modeling, these data suggest about 760,000 residents were in the labor force, and employment plateaued at about 743,000 residents who were working, during both years. While growth following the COVID-19 pandemic has been faster than the recovery from the Great Recession of 2007-2009, New Hampshire’s labor force has not returned to its pre-pandemic peak despite migration-fueled population growth since 2020. This labor force constraint is likely limiting employment growth in the state.