Skip to content

President Obama: Still the Worst Record on Jobs since Herbert Hoover

April 13, 2012

President

Jobs at Start of Administration

Jobs at End of Administration

Net Change

(All Figures in Millions)

Hoover

31.3 (annual average for 1929)

23.6 (annual average for 1932)

-7.7

Roosevelt

23.7 (annual average for 1933)

41.4 (April 1945)

+17.7

Truman

41.4 (April 1945)

50.1 (January 1953)

+8.7

Eisenhower

50.1 (January 1953)

53.7 (January 1961)

+3.5

Kennedy

53.7 (January 1961)

57.3 (November 1963)

+3.6

Johnson

57.3 (November 1963)

69.5 (January 1969)

+12.2

Nixon

69.5 (January 1969)

78.6 (August 1974)

+9.1

Ford

78.6 (August 1974)

80.7 (January 1977)

+2.1

Carter

80.7 (January 1977)

91.0 (January 1981)

+10.3

Reagan

91.0 (January 1981)

107.1 (January 1989)

+16.1

G. H. W. Bush

107.1 (January 1989)

109.7 (January 1993)

+2.6

Clinton

109.7 (January 1993)

132.5 (January 2001)

+22.7

G. W. Bush

132.5 (January 2001)

133.6 (January 2009)

+1.1

Obama

133.6 (January 2009)

132.8 (through March 2012)

-0.7

Source: Official Department of Labor nonfarm payroll jobs data, which began in 1939;
prior data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Totals may not add due to rounding.