Economy

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.

New Hampshire Employment Bump Last Summer Lowest in a Decade

A new analysis from NHFPI’s Ben Reynolds examines New Hampshire summer employment trends and finds that last year’s summer job growth was the weakest recorded over the past decade. Private-sector employment increased by just 11,118 jobs (2.2%) from May to August 2025, compared to an average increase of 3% from 2015-2024.

On 603 Day, Five Reasons to Feel Optimistic About New Hampshire’s Future

At NHFPI, we spend a lot of time examining New Hampshire’s challenges. But the data tell positive stories, too. In honor of 603 Day, we're highlighting five encouraging trends shaping the Granite State, from slowing housing price increases and declining drug-related deaths to growing freshman enrollment at UNH and improvements to roads, bridges, and child poverty.