# Jobs under George H. W. Bush, 1989–1993

Source page: https://govargus.com/presidents/bush-41/jobs

Under George H. W. Bush, the number of payroll jobs went from 106.9 million jobs in Dec 1988 to 109.5 million jobs in Dec 1992, up 2.6 million jobs (+2.4%). That is +0.65 million jobs/yr, against +2.70 million jobs/yr in the four years before. Ranked by yearly change, it is 6th of the 8 completed terms since 1977, counting from the fastest rise.

Nonfarm payroll jobs: Total jobs on US nonfarm payrolls (Current Employment Statistics survey, seasonally adjusted). The change over a term is the number of jobs added or lost. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, via FRED PAYEMS (https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PAYEMS), fetched Oct 19, 2026.

## Year by year

Highest reading during the term: 109.9 million jobs in Jun 1990. Lowest: 106.9 million jobs in Dec 1988.

| Period | Value | Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dec 1988, before inauguration | 106.9 million jobs |  |
| Dec 1989 | 108.8 million jobs | +1.9 million jobs |
| Dec 1990 | 109.2 million jobs | +0.3 million jobs |
| Dec 1991 | 108.3 million jobs | −0.8 million jobs |
| Dec 1992 | 109.5 million jobs | +1.2 million jobs |

## Every term

Sorted by yearly change, fastest rise first. A term's first year mostly reflects the previous administration's policies, and Congress, the Federal Reserve and the world economy move these numbers too. Govargus describes; it does not score presidents.

| President | Term | During term | 4 years before |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Joe Biden | 2021–2025 | 142.5 million jobs → 158.3 million jobs (+3.94 million jobs/yr) | −0.71 million jobs/yr |
| Bill Clinton | 1993–2001 | 109.5 million jobs → 132.7 million jobs (+2.90 million jobs/yr) | +0.65 million jobs/yr |
| Jimmy Carter | 1977–1981 | 80.4 million jobs → 90.9 million jobs (+2.62 million jobs/yr) | +1.29 million jobs/yr |
| Ronald Reagan | 1981–1989 | 90.9 million jobs → 106.9 million jobs (+1.99 million jobs/yr) | +2.62 million jobs/yr |
| Barack Obama | 2009–2017 | 134.8 million jobs → 145.4 million jobs (+1.32 million jobs/yr) | +0.55 million jobs/yr |
| George H. W. Bush | 1989–1993 | 106.9 million jobs → 109.5 million jobs (+0.65 million jobs/yr) | +2.70 million jobs/yr |
| Donald Trump (2nd term) | 2025–present | 158.3 million jobs → 159.0 million jobs (+0.42 million jobs/yr, through Sep 2026) | +3.94 million jobs/yr |
| George W. Bush | 2001–2009 | 132.7 million jobs → 134.8 million jobs (+0.27 million jobs/yr) | +2.89 million jobs/yr |
| Donald Trump (1st term) | 2017–2021 | 145.4 million jobs → 142.5 million jobs (−0.71 million jobs/yr) | +2.58 million jobs/yr |