January State-Level Employment Analysis
Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 48 states and the District of Columbia in January compared to the previous month. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationwide total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 504,000 in January, following a gain of 260,000 jobs in December.
On a month-over-month basis, employment data were strongest in California (+96,700 jobs), Texas (+48,600) and Florida (+30,000). Wyoming and Rhode Island lost a total of 1,100 jobs.
Year over year ending in January, 4.9 million jobs have been added, marking a more than full recovery of the labor market from the COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession. All the states and District of Columbia added jobs compared to a year ago. The range of job gains spanned 654,100 jobs in Texas to 3,400 jobs added in West Virginia. In percentage terms, Nevada reported the highest increase by 6%, while West Virginia had the lowest increase (0.5%) compared to a year ago.
Across the 48 states that reported construction sector jobs data — which includes both residential as well as non-residential construction — 40 states reported an increase in January compared to December, while seven lost construction sector jobs. Mississippi remained unchanged.
Danushka Nanayakkara-Skillington, NAHB assistant vice president for forecasting and analysis, provides more in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Workforce Development
Feb 02, 2026
HBA Investments in Career and Technical Education Grow Florida WorkforceStudents across the Florida Panhandle are gaining pathways into residential construction through the Building Industry Association of the Big Bend's Career and Technical Education programming.
Advocacy
Jan 30, 2026
Government Shutdown Could Impact HousingAlthough the Senate passed a spending bill to fund the vast majority of the federal government through Sept. 30, 2026, a partial government shutdown went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Feb 02, 2026
U.S. Population Growth Slows in 2025According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimates, the U.S. resident population grew by 1,781,060 to a total population of 341,784,857. The population grew at a rate of 0.5%, a sharp decline from the near 1.0% growth in 2024.
Economics
Jan 30, 2026
Bathroom Remodeling Is Most Common Project in 2025Every quarter, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducts a survey of professional remodelers. The first part of the survey collects the information required to produce the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI).
Economics
Jan 29, 2026
Saving Rate Falls to 3.5% in NovemberPersonal income rose 0.3% in November 2025, following a 0.1% increase in October, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Gains were largely driven by higher wages and dividend income. However, income growth has cooled noticeably from peaking at a monthly increase of 1.1% in July 2022 to 0.3% now.