By many metrics, New Hampshire experienced a slow but meaningful recovery in the decade following the Great Recession. However, not all Granite Staters felt the effects of subsequent economic recovery equally. Much of the job growth in the state in recent years has been driven by lower wage industries, and Granite Staters earning lower and middle wages during the recovery saw their purchasing power either barely keep up or fall behind the cost of living. The economic downturn resulting from the COVID-19 crisis has deeply impacted the economic security of many Granite Staters.
NHFPI explores trends in wages, poverty, and other economic measures; the implications of those trends for Granite Staters; and public policies designed to foster economic opportunity and prosperity in New Hampshire.
First published in New Hampshire Business Review, June 8, 2026. As New Hampshire enters another summer tourism season, recent employment data show how seasonal hiring patterns may be changing across the Grante State. Summer employment is important to New Hampshire’s tourism, recreation, hospitality, and retail sectors. Private-sector employment typically rises during the summer months. New ...