Jobs under Barack Obama
Nonfarm payroll jobs · Democratic · Jan 20, 2009 – Jan 20, 2017
Under Barack Obama, the number of payroll jobs went from 134.8 million jobs in Dec 2008 to 145.4 million jobs in Dec 2016, up 10.6 million jobs (+7.8%). That is +1.32 million jobs/yr, against +0.55 million jobs/yr in the four years before. Ranked by yearly change, it is 5th of the 8 completed terms since 1977, counting from the fastest rise.
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. Monthly data, fetched Oct 19, 2026. The chart runs from four years before the term to two years after it.
Jobs under Obama, year by year
Highest reading during the term: 145.4 million jobs in Dec 2016. Lowest: 129.7 million jobs in Feb 2010.
| Period | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 2008, before inauguration | 134.8 million jobs | |
| Dec 2009 | 129.8 million jobs | −5.0 million jobs |
| Dec 2010 | 130.8 million jobs | +1.0 million jobs |
| Dec 2011 | 132.9 million jobs | +2.1 million jobs |
| Dec 2012 | 135.1 million jobs | +2.2 million jobs |
| Dec 2013 | 137.4 million jobs | +2.3 million jobs |
| Dec 2014 | 140.4 million jobs | +3.0 million jobs |
| Dec 2015 | 143.1 million jobs | +2.7 million jobs |
| Dec 2016 | 145.4 million jobs | +2.3 million jobs |
Jobs under every president
Terms sorted by yearly change, fastest rise first, each next to the trend over the four years before it. A term's first year mostly reflects the previous administration's policies, and Congress, the Fed and the world economy move this number too. Why nothing here is a score.
| President | 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 |
Every term lined up from inauguration day on one chart · Nonfarm payroll jobs by president since 1980